What is the cost of living in Meriden, CT?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Meriden has an overall cost of living index of 108, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Connecticut, Meriden has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Connecticut's index of 116.
The standard of living in Meriden ranks as #13 most affordable out of the 55 places we measured in Connecticut. By definition, that implies Meriden ranks as the #42 most expensive place in the Constitution State.
For more reading on life in Meriden, check out:
Meriden Cost Of Living Vs. Connecticut
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Meriden. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Meriden is 107.
The Groceries index in Meriden is 111.
The Health index in Meriden is 101.
The Housing index in Meriden is 103.
The Transportation index in Meriden is 109.
The Utilities index in Meriden is 113.
| Living Expense | Meriden | Connecticut | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 108 | 116 | 100 |
| Services | 107 | 107 | 100 |
| Groceries | 111 | 111 | 100 |
| Health | 101 | 137 | 100 |
| Housing | 103 | 108 | 100 |
| Transportation | 109 | 110 | 100 |
| Utilities | 113 | 111 | 100 |
Meriden 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
Meriden, 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 Meriden is $315,833.
The Median Rent in Meriden is $1,294.
The Median Income in Meriden is $71,253.
The Home Value To Income in Meriden is 4.4x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Meriden is 0.22x.
| Statistic | Meriden | Connecticut | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $315,833 | $436,407 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,294 | $1,488 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $71,253 | $95,781 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.4x | 4.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.22x | 0.19x | 0.21x |
Meriden, CT Costs By Category
Detailed Meriden Services costs vs. Connecticut
| Item | Meriden | 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 Meriden Groceries costs vs. Connecticut
| Item | Meriden | 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 Meriden Health costs vs. Connecticut
| Item | Meriden | Connecticut |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $166.22 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $182.5 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $127.0 | $113.29 |
Detailed Meriden Transportation costs vs. Connecticut
| Item | Meriden | Connecticut |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.34 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $71.63 | $59.92 |
Detailed Meriden Utilities costs vs. Connecticut
| Item | Meriden | Connecticut |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $302.09 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $185.16 | $192.25 |
Meriden SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Meriden
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Meriden. 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 Meriden.
West Hartford, CT has a cost of living index of 127, 1.2x Meriden.
Bristol, CT has a cost of living index of 110, 1.0x Meriden.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Meriden |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Britain, CT | 74,223 | 104 | 1.0x |
| West Hartford, CT | 63,620 | 127 | 1.2x |
| Bristol, CT | 61,462 | 110 | 1.0x |
| Middletown, CT | 47,958 | 111 | 1.0x |
| Newington, CT | 30,896 | 110 | 1.0x |
| Wethersfield, CT | 27,250 | 114 | 1.1x |
| North Haven, CT | 24,336 | 123 | 1.1x |
| Wallingford Center, CT | 18,208 | 115 | 1.1x |
| Kensington, CT | 9,962 | 117 | 1.1x |
| Oakville, CT | 9,276 | 113 | 1.0x |
