Cost of living in Connecticut
Prices in Connecticut are 3.6% above the US average (10th highest of 51). A single filer on $75,000 pays $3,475 in state income tax. State sales tax: 6.35%.
Price levels in Connecticut
| BEA RPP 2024 | Connecticut | vs US (100) |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 103.6 | +3.6% |
| Goods | 97.3 | −2.7% |
| Housing (rents) | 117.0 | +17.0% |
| Utilities | 146.5 | +46.5% |
| Other services | 102.7 | +2.7% |
Metros in Connecticut
Metros whose principal city is in Connecticut. “Left over” = a single renter earning $60,000, after 2026 taxes (including the principal city’s local tax) and modeled costs.
| Metro | Population | Price level | 2-BR FMR | Infant care / wk* | Left over / mo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hartford, CT | 1,171,426 | 102.7 | $1,933 | $330 | $805 |
| Bridgeport, CT | 978,179 | 106.9 | $2,399 | $425 | $277 |
| New Haven, CT | 578,741 | 104.6 | $2,091 | $350 | $605 |
| Waterbury, CT | 463,349 | 99.8 | $1,745 | $350 | $1,012 |
| Norwich, CT | 284,015 | 100.4 | $1,902 | $290 | $830 |
*Center-based, DOL 2022 price for the metro’s principal county; a year in brackets marks an older latest-available price. “No data”: DOL publishes no price for that county, and childcare is left out of its budgets.
Taxes in Connecticut (2026)
| Annual tax | Single, $50,000 | Single, $75,000 | Single, $120,000 | Couple, 2 kids, $120,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal income tax | $3,820 | $7,670 | $17,570 | $5,640 |
| Social Security + Medicare | $3,825 | $5,738 | $9,180 | $9,180 |
| Connecticut income tax | $1,800 | $3,475 | $6,275 | $5,300 |
| Connecticut payroll taxes | $250 | $375 | $600 | $600 |
| Take-home pay / month | $3,359 | $4,812 | $7,198 | $8,273 |
Annual liability, standard deduction, Child Tax Credit; local income taxes are not included in this state-level table (see each metro). On $75,000, Connecticut’s income and payroll taxes cost $3,850 a year more than in a state without them (federal taxes are the same: $13,408).
Childcare prices across Connecticut
| Age band | Center, median county / wk (2022) | Center / yr today* | Home-based / wk (2022) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infant (under 2) | $330 | $20,976 | $250 |
| Toddler (2) | $330 | $20,976 | $245 |
| Preschool (3–4) | $255 | $16,209 | $245 |
| School-age (5–12) | $120 | $7,628 | $140 |
Center-based infant care ranges from $290 a week in Windham County to $425 in Greater Bridgeport Planning Region (2022 prices).
DOL National Database of Childcare Prices, 2022; median across 13 counties with 2022 data. *52 weeks × 1.2224 BLS CPI for day care and preschool, 2022 average to 2026-08. Look up a county.
Property taxes by county
Effective rate = Census median real estate taxes ÷ median home value (ACS 2020-2024), metro-area counties.
| County | Median value | Median tax | Effective rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greater Bridgeport Planning Region | $428,800 | $8,670 | 2.02% |
| Capitol Planning Region | $323,700 | $6,454 | 1.99% |
| South Central Connecticut Planning Region | $353,100 | $6,759 | 1.91% |
| Naugatuck Valley Planning Region | $317,700 | $5,983 | 1.88% |
| Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region | $379,700 | $6,357 | 1.67% |
| Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region | $323,400 | $5,228 | 1.62% |
| Western Connecticut Planning Region | $652,900 | $9,295 | 1.42% |
Energy and fuel
EIA: electricity 2025, natural gas 2024, gasoline week ending 2026-10-05.
Who moves to and from Connecticut
Census state-to-state migration flows (2024 ACS 1-year; people 1 year and over, ± margin of error at 90%). Totals cover moves between states and DC only: 82,002 in, 87,704 out (net −5,702).
- New York25,095 ±4,459
- Massachusetts11,612 ±2,586
- Florida6,040 ±2,007
- New Jersey5,628 ±1,617
- California4,237 ±2,318
- New Hampshire3,295 ±1,250
- Georgia2,684 ±948
- North Carolina2,597 ±1,468
- New York15,160 ±3,301
- Massachusetts9,936 ±1,952
- Florida9,767 ±2,747
- California4,853 ±1,483
- Pennsylvania4,704 ±1,560
- North Carolina4,643 ±2,352
- Texas4,022 ±1,402
- Georgia3,760 ±1,767
Frequently asked questions
Is Connecticut expensive to live in?+
BEA’s Regional Price Parities put Connecticut’s overall price level at 103.6 in 2024 (US = 100), the 10th highest of 51 states and DC. Housing is 117.0 and goods 97.3.
Does Connecticut have a state income tax?+
Yes. A single filer earning $75,000 owes about $3,475 in Connecticut income tax under 2026 law (4.6% of pay), plus $375 in state payroll taxes.
What is the sales tax in Connecticut?+
The state rate is 6.35% (as of 2026-10-13); groceries are exempt from the state rate. Local sales taxes can add to this.
What is the most affordable metro in Connecticut?+
For a single renter earning $60,000, Waterbury, CT leaves the most each month after taxes and modeled costs ($1,012), and Bridgeport, CT the least ($277).