What is the cost of living in Bristol, CT?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Bristol has an overall cost of living index of 110, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Connecticut, Bristol has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Connecticut's index of 116.
The standard of living in Bristol ranks as #18 most affordable out of the 55 places we measured in Connecticut. By definition, that implies Bristol ranks as the #37 most expensive place in the Constitution State.
For more reading on life in Bristol, check out:
Bristol Cost Of Living Vs. Connecticut
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Bristol. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Bristol is 106.
The Groceries index in Bristol is 107.
The Health index in Bristol is 114.
The Housing index in Bristol is 103.
The Transportation index in Bristol is 111.
The Utilities index in Bristol is 111.
| Living Expense | Bristol | Connecticut | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 110 | 116 | 100 |
| Services | 106 | 107 | 100 |
| Groceries | 107 | 111 | 100 |
| Health | 114 | 137 | 100 |
| Housing | 103 | 108 | 100 |
| Transportation | 111 | 110 | 100 |
| Utilities | 111 | 111 | 100 |
Bristol 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
Bristol, 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 Bristol is $339,023.
The Median Rent in Bristol is $1,338.
The Median Income in Bristol is $79,076.
The Home Value To Income in Bristol is 4.3x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Bristol is 0.2x.
| Statistic | Bristol | Connecticut | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $339,023 | $436,407 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,338 | $1,488 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $79,076 | $95,781 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.3x | 4.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.2x | 0.19x | 0.21x |
Bristol, CT Costs By Category
Detailed Bristol Services costs vs. Connecticut
| Item | Bristol | Connecticut |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.42 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $12.85 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $18.33 | $18 |
| Haircut | $33.78 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $58.55 | $45.56 |
Detailed Bristol Groceries costs vs. Connecticut
| Item | Bristol | Connecticut |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.23 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.46 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.73 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.96 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $10.79 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.49 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.65 | $3.7 |
Detailed Bristol Health costs vs. Connecticut
| Item | Bristol | Connecticut |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $166.22 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $182.5 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $127.0 | $113.29 |
Detailed Bristol Transportation costs vs. Connecticut
| Item | Bristol | Connecticut |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.34 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $71.63 | $59.92 |
Detailed Bristol Utilities costs vs. Connecticut
| Item | Bristol | Connecticut |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $302.09 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $185.16 | $192.25 |
Bristol SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Bristol
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Bristol. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Waterbury, CT has a cost of living index of 101, 0.9x Bristol.
New Britain, CT has a cost of living index of 104, 0.9x Bristol.
West Hartford, CT has a cost of living index of 127, 1.2x Bristol.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waterbury, CT | 114,869 | 101 | 0.9x |
| New Britain, CT | 74,223 | 104 | 0.9x |
| West Hartford, CT | 63,620 | 127 | 1.2x |
| Newington, CT | 30,896 | 110 | 1.0x |
| Wethersfield, CT | 27,250 | 114 | 1.0x |
| Kensington, CT | 9,962 | 117 | 1.1x |
| Oakville, CT | 9,276 | 113 | 1.0x |
| Terryville, CT | 5,461 | 109 | 1.0x |
