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State cost profile · 2024 BEA RPP

Cost of Living in Connecticut

Statewide Regional Price Parities for Connecticut from the Bureau of Economic Analysis — overall, goods, services, and rents vs the U.S. average of 100, across 5 metro areas.

103.6
Statewide RPP
#10
of 51 states by cost
117.0
Rents RPP
5
Metro areas

The verdict

Connecticut is more expensive than 80% of U.S. states — a statewide cost index of 103.6, 3.6% above the national average.

103.6
statewide cost index (US average = 100)
#10
of 51 states by overall cost
top 20%
nationally, among all states
117.0
rents RPP — the biggest budget swing

A $100,000 national salary carries the purchasing power of about $96,516 when earned in Connecticut.

Reading the Connecticut Cost of Living Picture

The Bureau of Economic Analysis places Connecticut's statewide Regional Price Parity at 103.6 for the 2024 data year, 3.6% more expensive the U.S. baseline of 100. Inside the headline figure, the state's services line runs hottest at 146.5, while goods offer the biggest relief at 97.3. That internal spread — rather than the single state number — is what determines whether a household actually feels priced in or priced out.

Connecticut captures 5 metro areas in the BEA dataset, and the range across them is meaningful. Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT Metropolitan Statistical Area leads on cost at 106.9, while Waterbury-Shelton, CT sits at the opposite end at 99.8 — a gap of 7.1 index points inside a single state. For goods the state indexes at 97.3, for services 146.5, and for rents 117.0 — the rent figure tends to be the most volatile input and deserves its own line-item review before any relocation decision.

Over time, Connecticut's statewide index has eased by 6.8 points, narrowing the premium versus lower-cost states. Practically, this means a $100,000 national salary delivers the purchasing power of about $96,516 of national buying power when earned inside Connecticut, and a household relocating here would need roughly $103,610 to reproduce a $100K lifestyle. Pair these numbers with metro-specific wage data and rent tables before treating the statewide figure as your planning assumption.

103.6
Overall
97.3
Goods
146.5
Services
117.0
Rents

Connecticut vs every U.S. state

Where this state sits in the national cost distribution

104 Top 20% higher than 80% of 51 US states

84–87: 2 US states (4%). Below this entry. 87–90: 7 US states (14%). Below this entry. 90–93: 8 US states (16%). Below this entry. 93–96: 6 US states (12%). Below this entry. 96–99: 8 US states (16%). Below this entry. 99–102: 5 US states (10%). Below this entry. 102–105: 8 US states (16%). This entry sits in this band. 105–108: 3 US states (6%). Above this entry. 108–111: 4 US states (8%). Above this entry. 111–114: 0 US states (0%). Above this entry. 114–117: 0 US states (0%). Above this entry. This state 84 117 every US state (incl. DC), bucketed by value

Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US states. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities · 2024

Most Expensive in Connecticut → Cheapest in Connecticut →

Metro areas in Connecticut, ranked by cost

# Metro area OverallGoodsServicesRents
1 Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury 106.9 97.3 147.1 150.5
2 New Haven 104.6 97.3 144.8 124.3
3 Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford 102.7 97.3 144.9 110.2
4 Norwich-New London-Willimantic 100.4 97.3 148.6 93.7
5 Waterbury-Shelton 99.8 97.3 147.6 89.1

The Rents RPP index measures housing costs relative to the national average (100). For the federal 40th-percentile Fair Market Rent by bedroom size and county, see the HUD Fair Market Rents dataset.

RPP History

Year Overall
2008 110.5
2009 110.7
2010 107.0
2011 107.8
2012 107.6
2013 107.7
2014 107.0
2015 107.5
2016 107.5
2017 107.2
2018 104.0
2019 103.9
2020 105.1
2021 102.9
2022 106.4
2023 104.2
2024 103.6

What this means in Connecticut

The statewide index is a starting point — cost varies metro to metro within Connecticut.

  • Don't rely on the state figure alone: Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury (106.9) and Waterbury-Shelton (99.8) sit 7 index points apart inside Connecticut. Check your specific metro.
  • Rents index at 117.0 (17.0% above average) — the largest swing in the RPP. Review the housing line before any relocation decision. Highest rents
  • Weighing Connecticut against another state? Convert your salary to local purchasing power first. Salary calculator

RPP is BEA's annual price-level benchmark (national average = 100) for the data year shown — pair it with local wages and current rents before deciding.

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
Cost of Living vs Wages
Where your dollar goes furthest
Understanding Regional Price Parities
How BEA constructs RPP data

View all guides →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cost of living in Connecticut? ▼
Connecticut has a Regional Price Parity (RPP) index of 103.6, meaning it is 3.6% more expensive than the national average. Goods are indexed at 97.3, services at 146.5, and rents at 117.0.
What salary in Connecticut equals $100K nationally? ▼
To maintain the same purchasing power as a $100,000 salary at the national average, you would need approximately $103,610 in Connecticut. Conversely, $100K earned in Connecticut has the purchasing power of $96,516 at the national average.
Is housing expensive in Connecticut? ▼
Rents in Connecticut are indexed at 117.0, which is 17.0% above the national average. Housing costs are significantly higher than typical U.S. levels.
Which is the most expensive metro in Connecticut? ▼
The most expensive metro area in Connecticut is Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT Metropolitan Statistical Area with an RPP of 106.9. The most affordable is Waterbury-Shelton, CT at 99.8. There are 5 metro areas in Connecticut with BEA price data.
Is Connecticut getting more expensive? ▼
From 2008 to 2024, Connecticut's overall cost index changed by -6.8 points (from 110.5 to 103.6). The cost of living has been declining.
What is most expensive in Connecticut compared to the U.S. average? ▼
The most expensive category in Connecticut is services at 146.5, which is 46.5% above the national average. The most affordable category is goods at 97.3, 2.7% below average.

Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities Index where national average = 100

Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.