Waterbury, CT vs Bridgeport, CT: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Bridgeport, CT has a modeled overall cost index 14.7% higher than Waterbury, CT.

Waterbury, CT · modeled 2BR rent: $1,720 / month
Bridgeport, CT · modeled 2BR rent: $2,240 / 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 Waterbury, CT and Bridgeport, 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 Waterbury, CT

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $976/month in Bridgeport, CT

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $161,713 in Bridgeport, CT

Regional cost estimates: Waterbury, CT uses New York, NY. Bridgeport, CT uses New York, NY. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↑ 14.7%

More expensive

Monthly Impact

$976

Extra cost

Annual Impact

$11.7K

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.

Waterbury, CT

Population:115K

Cost Index:

119.7

100 = national average

Typical Home:$268K

Bridgeport, CT

Population:148K

Cost Index:

137.3

100 = national average

Typical Home:$307K

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Waterbury, CT

The Constitution State

115K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Connecticut, this city has a population of 115K residents.

Bridgeport, CT

The Constitution State

148K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Connecticut, this city has a population of 148K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Waterbury, CT vs Bridgeport, 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	Waterbury, CT	Bridgeport, CT	Difference	Change
Housing	$3,845/mo	$4,409/mo	↑ $564more	14.7%
Other	$1,136/mo	$1,303/mo	↑ $167more	14.7%
Transportation	$895/mo	$1,026/mo	↑ $131more	14.7%
Groceries	$771/mo	$826/mo	↑ $54.56more	7.1%
Healthcare	$455/mo	$487/mo	↑ $32.21more	7.1%
All Utilities	$397/mo	$425/mo	↑ $28.10more	7.1%

Housing

↑ 14.7%

Waterbury, CT

$3,845

Bridgeport, CT

$4,409

Difference

$564

Other

↑ 14.7%

Waterbury, CT

$1,136

Bridgeport, CT

$1,303

Difference

$167

Transportation

↑ 14.7%

Waterbury, CT

$895

Bridgeport, CT

$1,026

Difference

$131

Groceries

↑ 7.1%

Waterbury, CT

$771

Bridgeport, CT

$826

Difference

$54.56

Healthcare

↑ 7.1%

Waterbury, CT

$455

Bridgeport, CT

$487

Difference

$32.21

All Utilities

↑ 7.1%

Waterbury, CT

$397

Bridgeport, CT

$425

Difference

$28.10

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$1,200

To$1,545

↑ $345

1 Bed

From$1,390

To$1,875

↑ $485

2 Bed

From$1,720

To$2,240

↑ $520

3 Bed

From$2,125

To$2,710

↑ $585

Waterbury, CTZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,120–$1,460/mo

Bridgeport, CTZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,780–$1,920/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 Waterbury, CT

$8,476

Monthly in Bridgeport, CT

$976

Difference

Home Values

Waterbury

Bridgeport

$268K

Median Value

$307K

↑ +3.1%

YoY Change

↑ +5.8%

↑ +84.3%

5-Year Change

↑ +56%

$250K - $290K

Price Range

$286K - $378K

Homes in Bridgeport are 14% more expensive than Waterbury

Calculate payment - Waterbury Calculate payment - Bridgeport

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

Waterbury, 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

Bridgeport, 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

Waterbury, CT Tax Rates

Sales Tax:6.3%

Property Tax:2.1%

Bridgeport, 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

Waterbury

Bridgeport

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 Waterbury, CT to Bridgeport, CT

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

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Bridgeport, CT for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Waterbury, 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 Waterbury to Bridgeport moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Waterbury, CT vs Bridgeport, CT

How do the cost estimates for Waterbury, CT and Bridgeport, CT compare?

Bridgeport, CT has a modeled overall cost index 14.7% higher than Waterbury, 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 Waterbury, CT, the model estimates $161,713 in Bridgeport, 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 Waterbury, CT and Bridgeport, CT?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,720/month in Waterbury, CT and $2,240/month in Bridgeport, 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.