What is the cost of living in East Haven, CT?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, East Haven has an overall cost of living index of 112, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Connecticut, East Haven has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than Connecticut's index of 116.
The standard of living in East Haven ranks as #25 most affordable out of the 55 places we measured in Connecticut. By definition, that implies East Haven ranks as the #30 most expensive place in the Constitution State.
For more reading on life in East Haven, check out:
East Haven Cost Of Living Vs. Connecticut
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in East Haven. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in East Haven is 103.
The Groceries index in East Haven is 110.
The Health index in East Haven is 126.
The Housing index in East Haven is 107.
The Transportation index in East Haven is 111.
The Utilities index in East Haven is 116.
| Living Expense | East Haven | Connecticut | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 112 | 116 | 100 |
| Services | 103 | 107 | 100 |
| Groceries | 110 | 111 | 100 |
| Health | 126 | 137 | 100 |
| Housing | 107 | 108 | 100 |
| Transportation | 111 | 110 | 100 |
| Utilities | 116 | 111 | 100 |
East Haven 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
East Haven, 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 East Haven is $353,435.
The Median Rent in East Haven is $1,528.
The Median Income in East Haven is $94,628.
The Home Value To Income in East Haven is 3.7x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in East Haven is 0.19x.
| Statistic | East Haven | Connecticut | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $353,435 | $436,407 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,528 | $1,488 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $94,628 | $95,781 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.7x | 4.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.19x | 0.19x | 0.21x |
East Haven, CT Costs By Category
Detailed East Haven Services costs vs. Connecticut
| Item | East Haven | Connecticut |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.47 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $15.07 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $24.0 | $18 |
| Haircut | $39.78 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $69.0 | $45.56 |
Detailed East Haven Groceries costs vs. Connecticut
| Item | East Haven | Connecticut |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.28 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.59 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.83 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.03 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $13.21 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.53 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.86 | $3.7 |
Detailed East Haven Health costs vs. Connecticut
| Item | East Haven | Connecticut |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $134.7 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $162.26 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $136.03 | $113.29 |
Detailed East Haven Transportation costs vs. Connecticut
| Item | East Haven | Connecticut |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.47 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $63.33 | $59.92 |
Detailed East Haven Utilities costs vs. Connecticut
| Item | East Haven | Connecticut |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $296.64 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $185.16 | $192.25 |
East Haven SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around East Haven
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around East Haven. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
New Haven, CT has a cost of living index of 114, 1.0x East Haven.
West Haven, CT has a cost of living index of 111, 1.0x East Haven.
Shelton, CT has a cost of living index of 129, 1.2x East Haven.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. East Haven |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Haven, CT | 134,349 | 114 | 1.0x |
| West Haven, CT | 55,351 | 111 | 1.0x |
| Shelton, CT | 41,889 | 129 | 1.2x |
| North Haven, CT | 24,336 | 123 | 1.1x |
| Ansonia, CT | 19,033 | 109 | 1.0x |
| Wallingford Center, CT | 18,208 | 115 | 1.0x |
| Orange, CT | 14,315 | 137 | 1.2x |
| Branford Center, CT | 6,305 | 120 | 1.1x |
