Overall
100.4
+0.4 above avg
2024 BEA RPP All 4 categories Federal source
Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT
Cost-of-living indicators for Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT, compiled from Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities (2024 data year). Categories include All Items, Goods, Services, and Rents.
CBSA: 35980 · Data year: 2024 · Rank: #79 of 387
Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT has a cost of living index of 100.4, meaning it's 0.4% more expensive than the national average. Goods cost 2.7% less, services 48.6% more, and rents are 6.3% below average. A $100K national salary has the purchasing power of $99,557 here.
What the Numbers Mean for Norwich
Norwich ranks #79 of 387 U.S. metro areas measured by the Bureau of Economic Analysis, placing it in the top quartile for cost. With an overall Regional Price Parity of 100.4, Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT is 0.4% more expensive than the national baseline of 100. The gap between Norwich's most and least expensive categories — services at 148.6 versus rents at 93.7 — is what drives the household budget experience on the ground, not the single headline number.
Translated into dollars, a nationally-benchmarked $100,000 salary carries the purchasing power of $99,557 inside Norwich, while a household needs roughly $100,445 here to match a $100K lifestyle elsewhere. Rents carry the biggest swing in the BEA formula and are indexed at 93.7 — 6.3% below the national average — so anyone weighing a move or a remote-work arbitrage should treat the housing line as the single largest variable in the equation.
Looking at the 2008-2024 trajectory, Norwich's overall index has fallen by 3.2 points, improving relative affordability. For the 2024 data year, goods are indexed at 97.3 and services at 148.6, meaning everyday spending in Norwich is governed more by the services and rent mix than by retail goods prices. Readers comparing multiple destinations should always pair the RPP headline with local wage data and housing costs before drawing relocation conclusions.
Norwich Cost Index at a Glance
Norwich all-items cost index
Regional Price Parity vs national average (100)
Norwich category breakdown
BEA RPP composition by goods, services, rents, overall
Price Index Summary
Goods
97.3
-2.7 below avg
Services
148.6
+48.6 above avg
Rents
93.7
-6.3 below avg
Price Index vs National Average (100)
Overall
National avg
Index 100.4 (+0.4 vs national avg)
Goods
National avg
Index 97.3 (-2.7 vs national avg)
Services
National avg
Index 148.6 (+48.6 vs national avg)
Rents
National avg
Index 93.7 (-6.3 vs national avg)
Vertical line on each bar = national average (100)
Cost Breakdown Analysis
Above National Average
Services +48.6% (148.6)
Overall +0.4% (100.4)
Below National Average
Rents -6.3% (93.7)
Goods -2.7% (97.3)
Income Adequacy in Norwich
Norwich income adequacy score
$75,000 median income vs RPP 100.4
Salary Equivalent
A $100,000 salary at the national average cost of living equals:
$100,445
in Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT purchasing power
$50,000 nationally
$50,222
$75,000 nationally
$75,334
$125,000 nationally
$125,556
$150,000 nationally
$150,667
$200,000 nationally
$200,890
Use the salary calculator for custom amounts.
RPP History (2008-2024)
The cost of living has been trending downward, decreasing by 3.2 points over this period.
| Year | Overall |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 103.7 |
| 2009 | 104.2 |
| 2010 | 101.5 |
| 2011 | 101.6 |
| 2012 | 101.7 |
| 2013 | 102.1 |
| 2014 | 98.0 |
| 2015 | 101.8 |
| 2016 | 102.6 |
| 2017 | 102.3 |
| 2018 | 101.7 |
| 2019 | 102.7 |
| 2020 | 102.1 |
| 2021 | 100.0 |
| 2022 | 103.6 |
| 2023 | 100.7 |
| 2024 | 100.4 |
Metros with Similar Cost of Living
These metros have an overall RPP closest to Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT's index of 100.4.
Other CT Metros
Related Data for Norwich
Salary Data
BLS occupation wages for Norwich area
Fair Market Rents
HUD rent data for Norwich metro
Crime Rates
FBI UCR crime data near Norwich
School Districts
NCES school data for Norwich area
ZIP Code Data
Census demographics for Norwich area
Life Score
Quality-of-life composite rating
Relocation Guide
7-dimension relocation intelligence
Cost of Living Guides
Cheapest Metros to Live in 2026
Official BEA data on the most affordable areas
Most Expensive Cities: 2026 Rankings
What drives high costs and how to cope
Salary Negotiation Using RPP Data
Calculate real purchasing power for negotiations
Comparing Metro Areas
Step-by-step BEA RPP comparison walkthrough
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost of living in Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT? ▼
Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT has a Regional Price Parity (RPP) index of 100.4, meaning it is 0.4% more expensive than the national average. Goods are indexed at 97.3, services at 148.6, and rents at 93.7. It ranks #79 out of 387 U.S. metro areas by overall cost.
What salary do I need in Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT to match $100K nationally? ▼
To maintain the same purchasing power as a $100,000 salary at the national average, you would need approximately $100,445 in Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT. Conversely, $100K earned in Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT has the purchasing power of $99,557 at the national average.
How expensive is rent in Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT? ▼
Rents in Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT are indexed at 93.7, which is 6.3% below the national average. This is close to the U.S. average.
Is Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT getting more expensive? ▼
From 2008 to 2024, Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT's overall cost index changed by -3.2 points (from 103.7 to 100.4). The cost of living has been declining.
What costs the most in Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT? ▼
The most expensive category in Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT is services at 148.6, which is 48.6% above the national average. The most affordable category is rents at 93.7, 6.3% below average.
What metros have a similar cost of living to Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT? ▼
Metros with the most similar overall cost index include Punta Gorda, Ogden, Spokane-Spokane Valley. These areas have RPP values within a few points of Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT's 100.4.
Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by Metropolitan Statistical Area (2024). Index where national average = 100.
Related
Data sourced from official U.S. government datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCost Editorial
Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
All federal data sources used on this page
- BEA Regional Price Parities (RPP) — cost-of-living indices by metro and state. bea.gov/data/regional-price-parities
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI) — inflation context by metro. bls.gov/cpi
- HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR) — housing-cost component. huduser.gov/datasets/fmr
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) — wage component. bls.gov/oes
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS — household income + demographics. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
- IRS Statistics of Income (SOI) — tax-burden context. irs.gov/statistics
