Is it cheaper to live in New Haven or Rochester?

Rochester, MN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,290 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 16% below New Haven, CT's $1,530, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in New Haven than in Rochester?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $51,000 a year in New Haven versus $44,000 in Rochester.

Which has lower taxes, New Haven or Rochester?

New Haven is taxed under Connecticut's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax); Rochester under Minnesota's (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax).

New Haven vs Rochester Cost of Living 2026

New Haven

Connecticut

$1,530/mo est.

Rochester

Minnesota

$1,290/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,530 in New Haven, CT versus $1,290 in Rochester, MN. Overall, Rochester, MN is roughly 16% cheaper to live in day-to-day than New Haven, CT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $53,771 in New Haven, CT and $87,767 in Rochester, MN — about 39% higher in Rochester, MN. Connecticut has a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax; Minnesota has a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax.

New Haven, CT

Rochester, MN

Rent

Studio

$1,159

$1,080

+7% in New Haven, CT

1 Bedroom

$1,275

$1,106

+13% in New Haven, CT

2 Bedroom

$1,473

$1,243

+16% in New Haven, CT

3 Bedroom

$1,636

$1,646

+1% in Rochester, MN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$249,000

$287,500

+15% in Rochester, MN

Income

Median Household Income

$53,771

$87,767

+63% in Rochester, MN

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$60,060

$60,620

+1% in Rochester, MN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

31.9 yr

36.4 yr

+4.5 yr in Rochester, MN

Homeownership

28.4%

65.4%

+37.0 pp in Rochester, MN

Bachelor's+ (25+)

37.7%

50.1%

+12.4 pp in Rochester, MN

Avg Commute

21.0 min

17.2 min

+3.8 min in New Haven, CT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

536.3

158.9

+70% in New Haven, CT

Property Crime

3,601.6

1,379

+62% in New Haven, CT

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

52.2°F

45.4°F

+6.8°F in New Haven, CT

Annual Precipitation

47.1 in

33.0 in

+14.1 in in New Haven, CT

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$3.96/gal

+0% in Rochester, MN

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Minnesota.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

24.3

17.5

+28% in New Haven, CT

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$23.33

$14.79

+37% in New Haven, CT

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$1.66

+14% in New Haven, CT

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$3.63

+66% in Rochester, MN

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$6.77

+2% in New Haven, CT

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

$2.10

+4% in New Haven, CT

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

$0.62

+11% in New Haven, CT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CT / MN)

6.35%

6.875%

+0.5 pp in MN

Income Tax (top rate)

6.99%

9.85%

+2.9 pp in MN

New Haven vs Rochester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in New Haven or Rochester?: Rochester, MN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,290 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 16% below New Haven, CT's $1,530, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in New Haven than in Rochester?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $51,000 a year in New Haven versus $44,000 in Rochester.
Which has lower taxes, New Haven or Rochester?: New Haven is taxed under Connecticut's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax); Rochester under Minnesota's (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% 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).