Cost of Living in Waterbury, CT
Waterbury-Shelton, CT — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Waterbury, CT to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
How expensive is Waterbury, CT?
With a price level of 99.8 (U.S. average = 100), Waterbury, CT is close to the national average. In detail, housing costs are 11% below average; everyday goods are 3% below average; utilities run 48% 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 Waterbury, CT vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 99.8 | −0.2% |
| Housing | 89.1 | −10.9% |
| Goods | 97.3 | −2.7% |
| Utilities | 147.6 | +47.6% |
| Other services | 102.7 | +2.7% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Waterbury, CT
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,248 | $49,920/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $1,445 | $57,800/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,788 | $71,520/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,210 | $88,400/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,646 | $105,840/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Salary needed to live in Waterbury, 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 Waterbury, CT | Take-home here |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $39,900 | $33,369 |
| $60,000 | $59,900 | $48,539 |
| $80,000 | $79,800 | $62,155 |
| $100,000 | $99,800 | $75,125 |
| $150,000 | $149,700 | $106,754 |
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 Waterbury, CT's median wage of $51,440 takes home about $3,510 a month. A typical one-bedroom rents for $1,445, which is 41% of take-home pay — well above the 30% guideline, so many workers here share housing or rent smaller units. That leaves about $2,065 a month for everything else.
Take-home pay in Waterbury, CT
- Federal income tax$3,993
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,189
- Medicare (1.45%)$746
- Connecticut income tax$1,390
- Take-home pay$42,122
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.50% state
Highest-paying jobs in Waterbury, CT
| Job | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|
| General and Operations Manager | $130,900 | $95,032 | $95,244 |
| Registered Nurse | $101,690 | $76,351 | $76,521 |
| Office Clerks, General | $46,570 | $38,428 | $38,514 |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | $39,990 | $33,437 | $33,512 |
| Stocker and Order Filler | $37,890 | $31,845 | $31,915 |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aide | $37,690 | $31,693 | $31,763 |
| Retail Salesperson | $35,360 | $29,926 | $29,992 |
| Cashier | $35,100 | $29,728 | $29,794 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $34,850 | $29,539 | $29,604 |
*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.
Waterbury, CT vs. similar-size cities
| Metro area | Price level | 1-BR rent | Median wage | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waterbury, CT | 99.8 | $1,445 | $51,440 | 160,710 |
| Youngstown, OH | 87.4 | $771 | $43,800 | 160,160 |
| Shreveport, LA | 84.8 | $982 | $44,820 | 162,750 |
| Canton, OH | 89.4 | $846 | $45,810 | 163,080 |
| Gulfport, MS | 90.0 | $925 | $43,470 | 158,310 |
| Beaumont, TX | 90.0 | $898 | $48,630 | 163,220 |
| Eugene, OR | 101.6 | $1,286 | $49,680 | 157,710 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Waterbury, CT expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Waterbury-Shelton, CT metro area are 99.8% of the U.S. average, with housing at 89.1%. It is the #93 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Waterbury, CT?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $59,867 in Waterbury, CT (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $51,440.
Can you afford Waterbury, CT on the median wage?
A single worker on the $51,440 median wage takes home about $3,510 a month after 2026 taxes; a one-bedroom at $1,445 would take 41% of that.
How much is rent in Waterbury, CT?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Waterbury, CT are $1,248 for a studio, $1,445 for one bedroom, $1,788 for two bedrooms and $2,210 for three bedrooms, including utilities.
Top salaries by field in Waterbury, CT
Management Occupations
- General and Operations Manager — $130,900
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
- Registered Nurse — $101,690
Healthcare Support Occupations
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $37,690
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $34,850
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations
Sales and Related Occupations
- Retail Salesperson — $35,360
- Cashier — $35,100
Office and Administrative Support Occupations
- Office Clerks, General — $46,570
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
- Stocker and Order Filler — $37,890