Is it cheaper to live in New Haven or Seattle?

New Haven, CT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,530 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 25% below Seattle, WA's $2,030, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $51,000 a year in New Haven versus $74,000 in Seattle.

Which has lower taxes, New Haven or Seattle?

New Haven is taxed under Connecticut's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax); Seattle under Washington's (no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax).

New Haven vs Seattle Cost of Living 2026

New Haven

Connecticut

$1,530/mo est.

Seattle

Washington

$2,030/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 $2,030 in Seattle, WA. Overall, New Haven, CT is roughly 25% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Seattle, WA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $53,771 in New Haven, CT and $121,984 in Seattle, WA — about 56% higher in Seattle, WA. Connecticut has a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax; Washington has no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax.

New Haven, CT

Seattle, WA

Rent

Studio

$1,159

$1,638

+41% in Seattle, WA

1 Bedroom

$1,275

$1,858

+46% in Seattle, WA

2 Bedroom

$1,473

$2,359

+60% in Seattle, WA

3 Bedroom

$1,636

$2,918

+78% in Seattle, WA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$249,000

$912,100

+266% in Seattle, WA

Income

Median Household Income

$53,771

$121,984

+127% in Seattle, WA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$60,060

$72,610

+21% in Seattle, WA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

31.9 yr

35.5 yr

+3.6 yr in Seattle, WA

Homeownership

28.4%

44.2%

+15.8 pp in Seattle, WA

Bachelor's+ (25+)

37.7%

67.5%

+29.8 pp in Seattle, WA

Avg Commute

21.0 min

26.6 min

+5.6 min in Seattle, WA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

536.3

788.6

+47% in Seattle, WA

Property Crime

3,601.6

5,108.8

+42% in Seattle, WA

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

53.5°F

+1.3°F in Seattle, WA

Annual Precipitation

47.1 in

37.7 in

+9.4 in in New Haven, CT

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$5.41/gal

+37% in Seattle, WA

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Seattle.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.75

Adult base one-way fare — — vs King County Metro (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

24.3

14.9

+39% in New Haven, CT

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$23.33

$21.34

+9% in New Haven, CT

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Seattle, WA

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$2.04

+6% in Seattle, WA

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$7.36

+7% in Seattle, WA

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

$2.01

+8% in New Haven, CT

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

$0.70

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CT / WA)

6.35%

6.5%

+0.2 pp in WA

Income Tax (top rate)

6.99%

None

+7.0 pp in CT

New Haven vs Seattle — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in New Haven or Seattle?: New Haven, CT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,530 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 25% below Seattle, WA's $2,030, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in New Haven than in Seattle?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $51,000 a year in New Haven versus $74,000 in Seattle.
Which has lower taxes, New Haven or Seattle?: New Haven is taxed under Connecticut's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax); Seattle under Washington's (no state income tax and a 6.5% 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).