What is the cost of living in New Haven, CT?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, New Haven has an overall cost of living index of 114, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Connecticut, New Haven has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than Connecticut's index of 116.
The standard of living in New Haven ranks as #30 most affordable out of the 55 places we measured in Connecticut. By definition, that implies New Haven ranks as the #25 most expensive place in the Constitution State.
For more reading on life in New Haven, check out:
New Haven Cost Of Living Vs. Connecticut
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in New Haven. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in New Haven is 103.
The Groceries index in New Haven is 114.
The Health index in New Haven is 119.
The Housing index in New Haven is 111.
The Transportation index in New Haven is 110.
The Utilities index in New Haven is 114.
| Living Expense | New Haven | Connecticut | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 114 | 116 | 100 |
| Services | 103 | 107 | 100 |
| Groceries | 114 | 111 | 100 |
| Health | 119 | 137 | 100 |
| Housing | 111 | 108 | 100 |
| Transportation | 110 | 110 | 100 |
| Utilities | 114 | 111 | 100 |
New 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
New 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 New Haven is $326,440.
The Median Rent in New Haven is $1,488.
The Median Income in New Haven is $56,851.
The Home Value To Income in New Haven is 5.7x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in New Haven is 0.31x.
| Statistic | New Haven | Connecticut | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $326,440 | $436,407 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,488 | $1,488 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $56,851 | $95,781 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 5.7x | 4.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.31x | 0.19x | 0.21x |
New Haven, CT Costs By Category
Detailed New Haven Services costs vs. Connecticut
| Item | New 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 New Haven Groceries costs vs. Connecticut
| Item | New 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 New Haven Health costs vs. Connecticut
| Item | New Haven | Connecticut |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $134.7 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $162.26 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $136.03 | $113.29 |
Detailed New Haven Transportation costs vs. Connecticut
| Item | New Haven | Connecticut |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.47 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $63.33 | $59.92 |
Detailed New Haven Utilities costs vs. Connecticut
| Item | New Haven | Connecticut |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $296.64 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $185.16 | $192.25 |
New Haven SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around New Haven
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around New Haven. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
West Haven, CT has a cost of living index of 111, 1.0x New Haven.
Shelton, CT has a cost of living index of 129, 1.1x New Haven.
East Haven, CT has a cost of living index of 112, 1.0x New Haven.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. New Haven |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Haven, CT | 55,351 | 111 | 1.0x |
| Shelton, CT | 41,889 | 129 | 1.1x |
| East Haven, CT | 27,806 | 112 | 1.0x |
| 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 |
| Derby, CT | 12,487 | 111 | 1.0x |
| Branford Center, CT | 6,305 | 120 | 1.1x |
