Overall
99.8
-0.2 below avg
2024 BEA RPP All 4 categories Federal source
Waterbury-Shelton, CT
Cost-of-living indicators for Waterbury-Shelton, CT, compiled from Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities (2024 data year). Categories include All Items, Goods, Services, and Rents.
CBSA: 47930 · Data year: 2024 · Rank: #93 of 387
Waterbury-Shelton, CT has a cost of living index of 99.8, meaning it's 0.2% less expensive than the national average. Goods cost 2.7% less, services 47.6% more, and rents are 10.9% below average. A $100K national salary has the purchasing power of $100,222 here.
What the Numbers Mean for Waterbury
Waterbury ranks #93 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 99.8, Waterbury-Shelton, CT is 0.2% less expensive than the national baseline of 100. The gap between Waterbury's most and least expensive categories — services at 147.6 versus rents at 89.1 — 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 $100,222 inside Waterbury, while a household needs roughly $99,778 here to match a $100K lifestyle elsewhere. Rents carry the biggest swing in the BEA formula and are indexed at 89.1 — 10.9% 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, Waterbury's overall index has fallen by 11.0 points, improving relative affordability. For the 2024 data year, goods are indexed at 97.3 and services at 147.6, meaning everyday spending in Waterbury 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.
Waterbury Cost Index at a Glance
Waterbury all-items cost index
Regional Price Parity vs national average (100)
Waterbury category breakdown
BEA RPP composition by goods, services, rents, overall
Price Index Summary
Goods
97.3
-2.7 below avg
Services
147.6
+47.6 above avg
Rents
89.1
-10.9 below avg
Price Index vs National Average (100)
Overall
National avg
Index 99.8 (-0.2 vs national avg)
Goods
National avg
Index 97.3 (-2.7 vs national avg)
Services
National avg
Index 147.6 (+47.6 vs national avg)
Rents
National avg
Index 89.1 (-10.9 vs national avg)
Vertical line on each bar = national average (100)
Cost Breakdown Analysis
Above National Average
Services +47.6% (147.6)
Below National Average
Rents -10.9% (89.1)
Goods -2.7% (97.3)
Overall -0.2% (99.8)
Income Adequacy in Waterbury
Waterbury income adequacy score
$75,000 median income vs RPP 99.8
Salary Equivalent
A $100,000 salary at the national average cost of living equals:
$99,778
in Waterbury-Shelton, CT purchasing power
$50,000 nationally
$49,889
$75,000 nationally
$74,834
$125,000 nationally
$124,723
$150,000 nationally
$149,667
$200,000 nationally
$199,556
Use the salary calculator for custom amounts.
RPP History (2008-2024)
The cost of living has been trending downward, decreasing by 11.0 points over this period.
| Year | Overall |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 110.8 |
| 2009 | 111.0 |
| 2010 | 105.9 |
| 2011 | 108.4 |
| 2012 | 106.9 |
| 2013 | 107.9 |
| 2014 | 105.8 |
| 2015 | 106.1 |
| 2016 | 106.5 |
| 2017 | 106.4 |
| 2018 | 102.1 |
| 2019 | 101.3 |
| 2020 | 103.4 |
| 2021 | 99.6 |
| 2022 | 102.5 |
| 2023 | 101.0 |
| 2024 | 99.8 |
Metros with Similar Cost of Living
These metros have an overall RPP closest to Waterbury-Shelton, CT's index of 99.8.
Other CT Metros
Related Data for Waterbury
Salary Data
BLS occupation wages for Waterbury area
Fair Market Rents
HUD rent data for Waterbury metro
Crime Rates
FBI UCR crime data near Waterbury
School Districts
NCES school data for Waterbury area
ZIP Code Data
Census demographics for Waterbury 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 Waterbury-Shelton, CT? ▼
Waterbury-Shelton, CT has a Regional Price Parity (RPP) index of 99.8, meaning it is 0.2% less expensive than the national average. Goods are indexed at 97.3, services at 147.6, and rents at 89.1. It ranks #93 out of 387 U.S. metro areas by overall cost.
What salary do I need in Waterbury-Shelton, CT to match $100K nationally? ▼
To maintain the same purchasing power as a $100,000 salary at the national average, you would need approximately $99,778 in Waterbury-Shelton, CT. Conversely, $100K earned in Waterbury-Shelton, CT has the purchasing power of $100,222 at the national average.
How expensive is rent in Waterbury-Shelton, CT? ▼
Rents in Waterbury-Shelton, CT are indexed at 89.1, which is 10.9% below the national average. This makes the area relatively affordable for renters.
Is Waterbury-Shelton, CT getting more expensive? ▼
From 2008 to 2024, Waterbury-Shelton, CT's overall cost index changed by -11.0 points (from 110.8 to 99.8). The cost of living has been declining.
What costs the most in Waterbury-Shelton, CT? ▼
The most expensive category in Waterbury-Shelton, CT is services at 147.6, which is 47.6% above the national average. The most affordable category is rents at 89.1, 10.9% below average.
What metros have a similar cost of living to Waterbury-Shelton, CT? ▼
Metros with the most similar overall cost index include Visalia, Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, Albany-Schenectady-Troy. These areas have RPP values within a few points of Waterbury-Shelton, CT's 99.8.
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
