Is it cheaper to live in Green Bay or Hartford?

Green Bay, WI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $930 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 28% below Hartford, CT's $1,300, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Green Bay than in Hartford?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Green Bay versus $42,000 in Hartford.

Which has lower taxes, Green Bay or Hartford?

Green Bay is taxed under Wisconsin's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax); Hartford under Connecticut's (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax).

Green Bay vs Hartford Cost of Living 2026

Green Bay

Wisconsin

$930/mo est.

Hartford

Connecticut

$1,300/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $930 in Green Bay, WI versus $1,300 in Hartford, CT. Overall, Green Bay, WI is roughly 28% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Hartford, CT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $62,546 in Green Bay, WI and $45,300 in Hartford, CT — about 28% higher in Green Bay, WI. Wisconsin has a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax; Connecticut has a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax.

Green Bay, WI

Hartford, CT

Rent

Studio

$707

$973

+38% in Hartford, CT

1 Bedroom

$730

$1,042

+43% in Hartford, CT

2 Bedroom

$956

$1,296

+36% in Hartford, CT

3 Bedroom

$1,287

$1,433

+11% in Hartford, CT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$191,500

$217,200

+13% in Hartford, CT

Income

Median Household Income

$62,546

$45,300

+28% in Green Bay, WI

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,940

$59,940

+20% in Hartford, CT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.7 yr

33.4 yr

+2.3 yr in Green Bay, WI

Homeownership

55.9%

25.7%

+30.2 pp in Green Bay, WI

Bachelor's+ (25+)

25.5%

18.3%

+7.2 pp in Green Bay, WI

Avg Commute

18.9 min

22.8 min

+3.9 min in Hartford, CT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

501.7

527.5

+5% in Hartford, CT

Property Crime

1,331.2

2,949.2

+122% in Hartford, CT

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

44.3°F

51.2°F

+6.9°F in Hartford, CT

Annual Precipitation

29.5 in

43.6 in

+14.1 in in Hartford, CT

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.85/gal

$3.94/gal

+2% in Hartford, CT

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

19.6

24.3

+24% in Hartford, CT

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$18.17

$23.33

+28% in Hartford, CT

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$1.92

+16% in Hartford, CT

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Green Bay, WI

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$6.90

+2% in Hartford, CT

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.19

+4% in Hartford, CT

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.69

+12% in Hartford, CT

Average prices — Midwest vs Northeast (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (WI / CT)

6.35%

+1.3 pp in CT

Income Tax (top rate)

7.65%

6.99%

+0.7 pp in WI

Green Bay vs Hartford — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Green Bay or Hartford?: Green Bay, WI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $930 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 28% below Hartford, CT's $1,300, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Green Bay than in Hartford?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Green Bay versus $42,000 in Hartford.
Which has lower taxes, Green Bay or Hartford?: Green Bay is taxed under Wisconsin's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax); Hartford under Connecticut's (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).