Bristol, CT vs West Haven, CT: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

West Haven, CT has a modeled overall cost index 12.7% higher than Bristol, CT.

Bristol, CT · modeled 2BR rent: $1,880 / month
West Haven, CT · modeled 2BR rent: $1,930 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Bristol, CT and West Haven, CT using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

Current salary in Bristol, CT

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $844/month in West Haven, CT

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $160,124 in West Haven, CT

Regional cost estimates: Bristol, CT uses New York, NY. West Haven, CT uses New York, NY. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↑ 12.7%

More expensive

Monthly Impact

$844

Extra cost

Annual Impact

$10.1K

Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Bristol, CT

Population:62K

Cost Index:

110.9

100 = national average

Typical Home:$327K

West Haven, CT

Population:55K

Cost Index:

125.0

100 = national average

Typical Home:$343K

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Bristol, CT

The Constitution State

62K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Connecticut, this city has a population of 62K residents.

West Haven, CT

The Constitution State

55K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Connecticut, this city has a population of 55K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Bristol, CT vs West Haven, CT

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Category	Bristol, CT	West Haven, CT	Difference	Change
Housing	$3,813/mo	$4,298/mo	↑ $485more	12.7%
Other	$1,127/mo	$1,270/mo	↑ $143more	12.7%
Transportation	$888/mo	$1,000/mo	↑ $113more	12.7%
Groceries	$794/mo	$843/mo	↑ $48.97more	6.2%
Healthcare	$469/mo	$498/mo	↑ $28.91more	6.2%
All Utilities	$409/mo	$434/mo	↑ $25.22more	6.2%

Housing

↑ 12.7%

Bristol, CT

$3,813

West Haven, CT

$4,298

Difference

$485

Other

↑ 12.7%

Bristol, CT

$1,127

West Haven, CT

$1,270

Difference

$143

Transportation

↑ 12.7%

Bristol, CT

$888

West Haven, CT

$1,000

Difference

$113

Groceries

↑ 6.2%

Bristol, CT

$794

West Haven, CT

$843

Difference

$48.97

Healthcare

↑ 6.2%

Bristol, CT

$469

West Haven, CT

$498

Difference

$28.91

All Utilities

↑ 6.2%

Bristol, CT

$409

West Haven, CT

$434

Difference

$25.22

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$1,310

To$1,340

↑ $30.00

1 Bed

From$1,520

To$1,560

↑ $40.00

2 Bed

From$1,880

To$1,930

↑ $50.00

3 Bed

From$2,320

To$2,380

↑ $60.00

Bristol, CTZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,520–$1,520/mo

West Haven, CTZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,560–$1,560/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500

Monthly in Bristol, CT

$8,344

Monthly in West Haven, CT

$844

Difference

Home Values

Bristol

West Haven

$327K

Median Value

$343K

↑ +4.3%

YoY Change

↑ +4.6%

↑ +56.8%

5-Year Change

↑ +56.2%

Homes in West Haven are 5% more expensive than Bristol

Calculate payment - Bristol Calculate payment - West Haven

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

→ $0

Same taxes

Monthly Difference

Same take-home

Effective Rate Diff

0.0%

Rate difference

Bristol, CT

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Connecticut State Tax

Effective: 5.4%

$8.1K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 30.0%

$45.1K

Take-Home Pay

$8,745/month

$104.9K

West Haven, CT

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Connecticut State Tax

Effective: 5.4%

$8.1K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 30.0%

$45.1K

Take-Home Pay

$8,745/month

$104.9K

Additional Tax Information

Bristol, CT Tax Rates

Sales Tax:6.3%

Property Tax:2.1%

West Haven, CT Tax Rates

Sales Tax:6.3%

Property Tax:2.1%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Bristol

West Haven

43 Good

Air Quality

43 Good

65.8%

Good Air Days

65.8%

99 High

Climate Risk

99 High

🌊🌀🌡

Top Hazards

🌊🌀🌡

▲+2.7°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.7°F

11 days

Heat Days >95°F

11 days

▲+2.7°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.7°F

11 days

Heat Days >95°F

11 days

Before moving from Bristol, CT to West Haven, CT

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in West Haven, CT for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Bristol, CT. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Bristol to West Haven moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to West Haven, CT by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Bristol, CT vs West Haven, CT

How do the cost estimates for Bristol, CT and West Haven, CT compare?

West Haven, CT has a modeled overall cost index 12.7% higher than Bristol, CT. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Bristol, CT, the model estimates $160,124 in West Haven, CT. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Bristol, CT and West Haven, CT?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,880/month in Bristol, CT and $1,930/month in West Haven, CT. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.