Cost of living in Connecticut

Everyday prices in Connecticut run 3.6% above the US average, the 42nd lowest of 51 states and DC.

By Sol Lakein, founder of Slower Sundays. Updated November 2026.

4% pricierEveryday prices¹42nd lowest of 51
$522,500Typical home^2,3$2,871/mo mortgage
$1,772/mo2-bed rent⁴Utilities included
$138,069$150K in New York¹Buys the same life in Connecticut

Connecticut next to New York and the US

Longer bar = costs more.^1,4,2,3

ConnecticutUnited StatesNew York metro

Everyday prices
4% pricier than averageUS average · New York metro 13% pricier
Housing, rent included
17% pricier than averageUS average · New York metro 49% pricier
2-bedroom rent$1,772/mo
13% more than the USUS $1,563 · New York metro $1,997
Typical home for sale$522,500
25% more than the USUS $419,250 · New York metro $742,000Mortgage $2,871/mo, US $2,304, New York metro $4,078. 20% down, 30-year fixed at 7.32%.

How affordable is Connecticut?

Rent and home prices next to what households earn.⁶

$101,400

Typical household incomeA year · 11th highest of 51

21%

Of income goes to rentA year of 2-bed rent ($1,772/mo) against median income ($101,400). 34th lowest of 51.

5.2

Years of income to buy a home$522,500 median listing against $101,400 income. 30th lowest of 50.

Are people moving to Connecticut?

5,945 more people left Connecticut for other states than arrived between July 2024 and July 2025 (Census Bureau estimates).

YearLeftArrivedNet moves
2019-20-19,294
2020-21+20,664
2021-22-11,105
2022-23-6,498
2023-24-3,827
2024-25-5,945

Where Americans are moving⁵

Metro areas in Connecticut

Cheapest first. Tap one for its full cost of living.^1,4,2

Price levelUS averageShorter bar = cheaper, longer = pricier

Connecticut next to its neighbors

The states that border Connecticut, on the same measures. The number is each state's national rank on everyday prices.^1,4,2

37Rhode Island2% pricier than average
2-bed rent
$1,701
Typical home
$569,900
Net moves
-1,551
42ConnecticutThis state4% pricier than average
2-bed rent
$1,772
Typical home
$522,500
Net moves
-5,945
45Massachusetts6% pricier than average
2-bed rent
$2,121
Typical home
$714,250
Net moves
-33,340
47New York8% pricier than average
2-bed rent
$1,729
Typical home
$605,000
Net moves
-137,586

Connecticut by the numbers

Every figure on this page, as tables

Connecticut next to New York and the US

Place	Price level	Housing	Typical home	Monthly payment	2-bedroom rent
Connecticut	103.6	117.0	$522,500	$2,871	$1,772
United States	100.0	100.0	$419,250	$2,304	$1,563
New York metro	112.6	148.6	$742,000	$4,078	$1,997

Metro areas in Connecticut

Metro	Price level	2-bedroom rent	Typical home
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT	102.7	$1,731	$449,900
New Haven-Milford, CT	104.6	$1,869	$425,000
Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT	106.9	$2,118	$776,000

Connecticut next to its neighbors

State	Price level	2-bedroom rent	Typical home	Net moves from other states
Connecticut	103.6	$1,772	$522,500	-5,945
Massachusetts	105.8	$2,121	$714,250	-33,340
New York	107.9	$1,729	$605,000	-137,586
Rhode Island	102.3	$1,701	$569,900	-1,551

Net moves from other states

Year (July to July)	Net moves from other states
2019-20	-19,294
2020-21	+20,664
2021-22	-11,105
2022-23	-6,498
2023-24	-3,827
2024-25	-5,945

States with a similar cost of living to Connecticut

Keep comparing

Connecticut cost of living: questions people ask

What is the cost of living in Connecticut?

Everyday prices in Connecticut run 3.6% above the US average, the 42nd lowest of 51 states and DC (BEA, 2024). Housing costs, rent included, index at 117.0 against a US average of 100. The median listed home is $522,500 (Realtor.com, September 2026), about $2,871 a month in principal and interest. The median 2-bedroom rent is $1,772 a month, utilities included (Census, 2025). A $150,000 salary in New York buys the same as $138,069 in Connecticut.

Is Connecticut cheap or expensive to live in?

More expensive than average. Connecticut's regional price parity is 103.6, 3.6% above the US average (BEA, 2024).

How much does a house cost in Connecticut?

The median listed home in Connecticut is $522,500 as of September 2026 (Realtor.com via FRED), against $419,250 nationally. That ranks 37th lowest of 50. With 20% down at 7.32%, principal and interest run about $2,871 a month.

How much is rent in Connecticut?

The median gross rent for a 2-bedroom in Connecticut is $1,772 a month, including utilities the renter pays, against $1,563 for the US (Census American Community Survey, 2025).

What salary in Connecticut equals $150,000 in New York?

About $138,069, using BEA regional price parities for Connecticut (103.6) and the New York metro (112.6), 2024.

Are people moving to Connecticut?

5,945 more people left Connecticut for other states than arrived between July 2024 and July 2025 (Census Bureau estimates).

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Notes on the numbers

1Everyday prices, housing costs and price levels: BEA regional price parities via FRED, 2024, where the US average is 100. In ranked lists, 1 is the cheapest.
2Homes: the typical home is the median listing price, Realtor.com via FRED, September 2026.
3Mortgage: Principal and interest on the median listed home with 20% down, 30-year fixed at 7.32% (Freddie Mac 30-year fixed average, week of October 22, 2026). Excludes taxes, insurance and HOA.
4Rent: Census ACS 2025 1-year, median gross rent for 2-bedroom units, including utilities.
5Net moves: US Census Bureau population estimates, net domestic migration, July to July.
6Affordability: our arithmetic on Census median gross rent (2025), Census median household income (2025) and Realtor.com median listing price (September 2026). Rank 1 is the most affordable.

Sources for this page