What is the cost of living in Bethel, CT?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Bethel has an overall cost of living index of 125, which is 1.2x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Connecticut, Bethel has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than Connecticut's index of 116.
The standard of living in Bethel ranks as #42 most affordable out of the 55 places we measured in Connecticut. By definition, that implies Bethel ranks as the #13 most expensive place in the Constitution State.
For more reading on life in Bethel, check out:
Bethel Cost Of Living Vs. Connecticut
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Bethel. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Bethel is 109.
The Groceries index in Bethel is 111.
The Health index in Bethel is 160.
The Housing index in Bethel is 107.
The Transportation index in Bethel is 113.
The Utilities index in Bethel is 110.
| Living Expense | Bethel | Connecticut | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 125 | 116 | 100 |
| Services | 109 | 107 | 100 |
| Groceries | 111 | 111 | 100 |
| Health | 160 | 137 | 100 |
| Housing | 107 | 108 | 100 |
| Transportation | 113 | 110 | 100 |
| Utilities | 110 | 111 | 100 |
Bethel Cost Of Living Compared To Connecticut Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Connecticut, check out:
- Most Expensive Cities In Connecticut
- Most Affordable Cities In Connecticut
- Average Rent In Connecticut
Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Bethel, CT Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Connecticut, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Bethel is $554,247.
The Median Rent in Bethel is $1,656.
The Median Income in Bethel is $90,848.
The Home Value To Income in Bethel is 6.1x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Bethel is 0.22x.
| Statistic | Bethel | Connecticut | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $554,247 | $436,407 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,656 | $1,488 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $90,848 | $95,781 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 6.1x | 4.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.22x | 0.19x | 0.21x |
Bethel, CT Costs By Category
Detailed Bethel Services costs vs. Connecticut
| Item | Bethel | Connecticut |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.5 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $13.76 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $19.63 | $18 |
| Haircut | $32.33 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $48.56 | $45.56 |
Detailed Bethel Groceries costs vs. Connecticut
| Item | Bethel | Connecticut |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.34 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.61 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.73 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.03 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $10.07 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.62 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.66 | $3.7 |
Detailed Bethel Health costs vs. Connecticut
| Item | Bethel | Connecticut |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $140.1 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $143.23 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $123.0 | $113.29 |
Detailed Bethel Transportation costs vs. Connecticut
| Item | Bethel | Connecticut |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.33 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $57.68 | $59.92 |
Detailed Bethel Utilities costs vs. Connecticut
| Item | Bethel | Connecticut |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $281.67 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $185.16 | $192.25 |
Bethel SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Bethel
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Bethel. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Norwalk, CT has a cost of living index of 143, 1.1x Bethel.
Danbury, CT has a cost of living index of 126, 1.0x Bethel.
Shelton, CT has a cost of living index of 129, 1.0x Bethel.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Bethel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Norwalk, CT | 92,187 | 143 | 1.1x |
| Danbury, CT | 87,263 | 126 | 1.0x |
| Shelton, CT | 41,889 | 129 | 1.0x |
| Ansonia, CT | 19,033 | 109 | 0.9x |
| Mahopac, NY | 9,039 | 134 | 1.1x |
| New Milford, CT | 8,188 | 118 | 0.9x |
| Lake Carmel, NY | 7,854 | 124 | 1.0x |
| Ridgefield, CT | 6,970 | 167 | 1.3x |
