What is the cost of living in Hartford, CT?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Hartford has an overall cost of living index of 104, which is 1.0x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Connecticut, Hartford has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Connecticut's index of 116.
The standard of living in Hartford ranks as #7 most affordable out of the 55 places we measured in Connecticut. By definition, that implies Hartford ranks as the #48 most expensive place in the Constitution State.
For more reading on life in Hartford, check out:
Hartford Cost Of Living Vs. Connecticut
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Hartford. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Hartford is 105.
The Groceries index in Hartford is 112.
The Health index in Hartford is 98.
The Housing index in Hartford is 112.
The Transportation index in Hartford is 110.
The Utilities index in Hartford is 113.
| Living Expense | Hartford | Connecticut | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 104 | 116 | 100 |
| Services | 105 | 107 | 100 |
| Groceries | 112 | 111 | 100 |
| Health | 98 | 137 | 100 |
| Housing | 112 | 108 | 100 |
| Transportation | 110 | 110 | 100 |
| Utilities | 113 | 111 | 100 |
Hartford 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
Hartford, 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 Hartford is $198,964.
The Median Rent in Hartford is $1,269.
The Median Income in Hartford is $46,411.
The Home Value To Income in Hartford is 4.3x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Hartford is 0.33x.
| Statistic | Hartford | Connecticut | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $198,964 | $436,407 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,269 | $1,488 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $46,411 | $95,781 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.3x | 4.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.33x | 0.19x | 0.21x |
Hartford, CT Costs By Category
Detailed Hartford Services costs vs. Connecticut
| Item | Hartford | 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 Hartford Groceries costs vs. Connecticut
| Item | Hartford | 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 Hartford Health costs vs. Connecticut
| Item | Hartford | Connecticut |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $166.22 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $182.5 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $127.0 | $113.29 |
Detailed Hartford Transportation costs vs. Connecticut
| Item | Hartford | Connecticut |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.34 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $71.63 | $59.92 |
Detailed Hartford Utilities costs vs. Connecticut
| Item | Hartford | Connecticut |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $302.09 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $185.16 | $192.25 |
Hartford SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Hartford
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Hartford. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
New Britain, CT has a cost of living index of 104, 1.0x Hartford.
West Hartford, CT has a cost of living index of 127, 1.2x Hartford.
East Hartford, CT has a cost of living index of 106, 1.0x Hartford.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Hartford |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Britain, CT | 74,223 | 104 | 1.0x |
| West Hartford, CT | 63,620 | 127 | 1.2x |
| East Hartford, CT | 50,918 | 106 | 1.0x |
| Manchester, CT | 36,759 | 104 | 1.0x |
| Newington, CT | 30,896 | 110 | 1.1x |
| Wethersfield, CT | 27,250 | 114 | 1.1x |
| Windsor Locks, CT | 12,579 | 113 | 1.1x |
| Kensington, CT | 9,962 | 117 | 1.1x |
| Southwood Acres, CT | 8,115 | 119 | 1.1x |
| Glastonbury Center, CT | 7,266 | 121 | 1.2x |
