Cost of Living in Hartford, CT
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Hartford, CT to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
How expensive is Hartford, CT?
With a price level of 102.7 (U.S. average = 100), Hartford, CT is close to the national average. In detail, housing costs run 10% above average; everyday goods are 3% below average; utilities run 45% above average; other services such as healthcare and dining run 3% above average. The biggest difference from the national average is in utilities.
Prices in Hartford, CT vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 102.7 | +2.7% |
| Housing | 110.2 | +10.2% |
| Goods | 97.3 | −2.7% |
| Utilities | 144.9 | +44.9% |
| Other services | 102.7 | +2.7% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Hartford, CT
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,286 | $51,440/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $1,477 | $59,080/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,865 | $74,600/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,236 | $89,440/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,537 | $101,480/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Salary needed to live in Hartford, 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 Hartford, CT | Take-home here |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $41,100 | $34,279 |
| $60,000 | $61,600 | $49,829 |
| $80,000 | $82,200 | $63,712 |
| $100,000 | $102,700 | $77,006 |
| $150,000 | $154,100 | $109,497 |
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 Hartford, CT's median wage of $59,940 takes home about $4,047 a month. A typical one-bedroom rents for $1,477, which is 36% of take-home pay — above the 30% guideline that financial planners suggest. That leaves about $2,570 a month for everything else.
Take-home pay in Hartford, CT
- Federal income tax$5,013
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,716
- Medicare (1.45%)$869
- Connecticut income tax$1,772
- Take-home pay$48,569
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.50% state
Highest-paying jobs in Hartford, 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.
Hartford, CT vs. similar-size cities
| Metro area | Price level | 1-BR rent | Median wage | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hartford, CT | 102.7 | $1,477 | $59,940 | 599,770 |
| Grand Rapids, MI | 95.5 | $1,242 | $47,570 | 598,260 |
| Memphis, TN | 92.2 | $1,137 | $46,890 | 611,670 |
| Richmond, VA | 97.9 | $1,505 | $51,460 | 660,350 |
| Buffalo, NY | 95.8 | $1,139 | $50,790 | 534,550 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | 90.4 | $1,002 | $47,230 | 677,680 |
| Birmingham, AL | 91.6 | $1,115 | $47,770 | 520,290 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Hartford, CT expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT metro area are 102.7% of the U.S. average, with housing at 110.2%. It is the #49 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Hartford, CT?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $61,648 in Hartford, CT (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $59,940.
Can you afford Hartford, CT on the median wage?
A single worker on the $59,940 median wage takes home about $4,047 a month after 2026 taxes; a one-bedroom at $1,477 would take 36% of that.
How much is rent in Hartford, CT?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Hartford, CT are $1,286 for a studio, $1,477 for one bedroom, $1,865 for two bedrooms and $2,236 for three bedrooms, including utilities.
Top salaries by field in Hartford, CT
Management Occupations
- Architectural and Engineering Manager — $174,440
- Computer and Information Systems Manager — $171,350
- Financial Manager — $170,310
- Managers, All Other — $163,730
- Sales Manager — $161,410
- General and Operations Manager — $148,080
- Medical and Health Services Manager — $128,810
Business and Financial Operations Occupations
- Management Analyst — $105,970
- Project Management Specialist — $105,720
- Accountant and Auditor — $95,940
- Human Resources Specialist — $82,920
- Market Research Analyst and Marketing Specialist — $78,220
Computer and Mathematical Occupations
- Software Developer — $132,520
- Computer User Support Specialist — $63,930
Architecture and Engineering Occupations
- Industrial Engineer — $103,790
- Civil Engineer — $103,650
Community and Social Service Occupations
- Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors — $61,400
- Social and Human Service Assistant — $44,460
Legal Occupations
- Lawyer — $157,200
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
- Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary — $107,090
- Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $96,030
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $80,710
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education — $79,800
- Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary — $38,720
- Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary — $38,440
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
- Registered Nurse — $101,470
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse — $72,800
Healthcare Support Occupations
- Medical Assistant — $46,880
- Nursing Assistant — $44,340
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $39,620
Protective Service Occupations
- Security Guard — $39,060
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $52,540
- Cooks, Restaurant — $39,150
- Bartender — $37,290
- Waiter and Waitress — $37,200
- Food Preparation Worker — $35,860
- Dishwasher — $35,350
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $35,030
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations
- Landscaping and Groundskeeping Worker — $44,860
- Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners — $37,400
Personal Care and Service Occupations
- Childcare Worker — $35,920
Sales and Related Occupations
- Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products — $78,000
- Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel — $74,220
- First-Line Supervisor of Retail Sales Workers — $53,860
- Retail Salesperson — $35,720
- Cashier — $35,180
Office and Administrative Support Occupations
- Executive Secretary and Executive Administrative Assistant — $80,370
- First-Line Supervisor of Office and Administrative Support Workers — $78,740
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks — $59,470
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive — $55,940
- Office Clerks, General — $48,170
- Customer Service Representative — $48,050
- Medical Secretary and Administrative Assistant — $47,470
- Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks — $45,430
Construction and Extraction Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $90,510
- Electrician — $77,680
- Construction Laborer — $56,280
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations
- Maintenance and Repair Workers, General — $58,670
Production Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers — $84,160
- Machinist — $64,320
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers — $60,040
- Miscellaneous Assembler and Fabricator — $48,660
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
- First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors — $65,440
- Bus Drivers, School — $61,560
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $59,890
- Light Truck Driver — $44,370
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $44,000
- Stocker and Order Filler — $40,730