Cost of Living in Bridgeport, CT
Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Bridgeport, CT to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
How expensive is Bridgeport, CT?
With a price level of 106.9 (U.S. average = 100), Bridgeport, CT is more expensive than average. In detail, housing costs run 50% above average; everyday goods are 3% below average; utilities run 47% above average; other services such as healthcare and dining run 3% above average. The biggest difference from the national average is in housing.
Prices in Bridgeport, CT vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 106.9 | +6.9% |
| Housing | 150.5 | +50.5% |
| Goods | 97.3 | −2.7% |
| Utilities | 147.1 | +47.1% |
| Other services | 102.7 | +2.7% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Bridgeport, CT
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,731 | $69,240/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $2,100 | $84,000/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $2,511 | $100,440/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $3,036 | $121,440/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $3,598 | $143,920/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Salary needed to live in Bridgeport, CT
To keep the same standard of living as in an average-priced U.S. city, you would need to earn roughly:
| Salary in an average U.S. city | Equivalent in Bridgeport, CT | Take-home here |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $42,700 | $35,493 |
| $60,000 | $64,100 | $51,725 |
| $80,000 | $85,500 | $65,852 |
| $100,000 | $106,900 | $79,730 |
| $150,000 | $160,300 | $113,363 |
Scaled by the BEA price level (pre-tax). Take-home: single filer, Connecticut 2026 taxes. For a tax-aware comparison with a specific city, use the calculator above.
A monthly budget on the median wage
A single worker earning Bridgeport, CT's median wage of $61,470 takes home about $4,144 a month. A typical one-bedroom rents for $2,100, which is 51% of take-home pay — well above the 30% guideline, so many workers here share housing or rent smaller units. That leaves about $2,044 a month for everything else.
Take-home pay in Bridgeport, CT
- Federal income tax$5,196
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,811
- Medicare (1.45%)$891
- Connecticut income tax$1,841
- Take-home pay$49,730
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.50% state
Highest-paying jobs in Bridgeport, CT
*In U.S.-average dollars after adjusting for local prices.
Pay and living costs in Connecticut cities
Half of Connecticut’s 1,696,170 workers earn less than $59,690 a year and half earn more; the middle 50% earn $40,390–$95,110 (BLS, May 2025). Prices vary a lot within the state: Hartford, CT stretches a paycheck furthest, while Waterbury, CT is the costliest.
| Metro area | Median pay | Price level | 1-BR rent | Rent share | Left after rent / mo | Buying power* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hartford, CT | $59,940 | 102.7 | $1,477 | 36% | $2,570 | $47,271 |
| Bridgeport, CT | $61,470 | 106.9 | $2,100 | 51% | $2,044 | $46,536 |
| New Haven, CT | $60,060 | 104.6 | $1,591 | 39% | $2,464 | $46,539 |
| Waterbury, CT | $51,440 | 99.8 | $1,445 | 41% | $2,065 | $42,216 |
| Norwich, CT | $57,370 | 100.4 | $1,496 | 39% | $2,389 | $46,414 |
*Yearly take-home pay (on each metro’s median wage, single filer) in U.S.-average dollars. Price level: BEA RPP 2024 (U.S. = 100). Rent: HUD FY2026 one-bedroom fair market rent.
Bridgeport, CT vs. similar-size cities
| Metro area | Price level | 1-BR rent | Median wage | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgeport, CT | 106.9 | $2,100 | $61,470 | 404,180 |
| Des Moines, IA | 91.7 | $1,092 | $51,820 | 404,130 |
| Albuquerque, NM | 95.5 | $1,185 | $48,060 | 404,700 |
| Madison, WI | 97.3 | $1,377 | $58,080 | 408,070 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | 90.8 | $1,048 | $48,710 | 409,690 |
| Columbia, SC | 93.7 | $1,139 | $46,430 | 394,200 |
| Charleston, SC | 101.0 | $1,630 | $49,150 | 394,170 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Bridgeport, CT expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT metro area are 106.9% of the U.S. average, with housing at 150.5%. It is the #21 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Bridgeport, CT?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $64,118 in Bridgeport, CT (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $61,470.
Can you afford Bridgeport, CT on the median wage?
A single worker on the $61,470 median wage takes home about $4,144 a month after 2026 taxes; a one-bedroom at $2,100 would take 51% of that.
How much is rent in Bridgeport, CT?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Bridgeport, CT are $1,731 for a studio, $2,100 for one bedroom, $2,511 for two bedrooms and $3,036 for three bedrooms, including utilities.
Top salaries by field in Bridgeport, CT
Management Occupations
- Financial Manager — $211,000
- Computer and Information Systems Manager — $201,440
- General and Operations Manager — $137,230
Business and Financial Operations Occupations
- Financial and Investment Analyst — $158,310
- Personal Financial Advisor — $135,770
- Accountant and Auditor — $102,020
- Human Resources Specialist — $85,550
- Market Research Analyst and Marketing Specialist — $81,030
Computer and Mathematical Occupations
- Software Developer — $162,650
- Computer User Support Specialist — $78,070
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
- Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $99,360
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education — $98,600
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $82,960
- Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary — $39,210
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
- Registered Nurse — $105,660
Healthcare Support Occupations
- Medical Assistant — $47,970
- Nursing Assistant — $45,560
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $38,110
Protective Service Occupations
- Security Guard — $44,390
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $58,260
- Cooks, Restaurant — $43,400
- Waiter and Waitress — $38,820
- Food Preparation Worker — $37,820
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $36,550
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations
- Landscaping and Groundskeeping Worker — $46,430
- Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners — $38,630
Personal Care and Service Occupations
- Childcare Worker — $38,020
Sales and Related Occupations
- Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents — $133,530
- Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel — $78,380
- First-Line Supervisor of Retail Sales Workers — $58,820
- Retail Salesperson — $37,330
- Cashier — $36,420
Office and Administrative Support Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Office and Administrative Support Workers — $79,770
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks — $61,390
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive — $57,440
- Customer Service Representative — $49,970
- Office Clerks, General — $49,100
- Receptionist and Information Clerk — $44,610
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations
- Maintenance and Repair Workers, General — $57,500
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $61,580
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $43,550
- Stocker and Order Filler — $38,060