What is the cost of living in Portland, CT?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Portland has an overall cost of living index of 112, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Connecticut, Portland has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than Connecticut's index of 116.
The standard of living in Portland ranks as #25 most affordable out of the 55 places we measured in Connecticut. By definition, that implies Portland ranks as the #30 most expensive place in the Constitution State.
For more reading on life in Portland, check out:
Portland Cost Of Living Vs. Connecticut
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Portland. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Portland is 109.
The Groceries index in Portland is 108.
The Health index in Portland is 121.
The Housing index in Portland is 102.
The Transportation index in Portland is 108.
The Utilities index in Portland is 106.
| Living Expense | Portland | Connecticut | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 112 | 116 | 100 |
| Services | 109 | 107 | 100 |
| Groceries | 108 | 111 | 100 |
| Health | 121 | 137 | 100 |
| Housing | 102 | 108 | 100 |
| Transportation | 108 | 110 | 100 |
| Utilities | 106 | 111 | 100 |
Portland 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
Portland, 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 Portland is $402,704.
The Median Rent in Portland is $1,122.
The Median Income in Portland is $89,401.
The Home Value To Income in Portland is 4.5x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Portland is 0.15x.
| Statistic | Portland | Connecticut | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $402,704 | $436,407 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,122 | $1,488 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $89,401 | $95,781 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.5x | 4.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.15x | 0.19x | 0.21x |
Portland, CT Costs By Category
Detailed Portland Services costs vs. Connecticut
| Item | Portland | 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 Portland Groceries costs vs. Connecticut
| Item | Portland | 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 Portland Health costs vs. Connecticut
| Item | Portland | Connecticut |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $166.22 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $182.5 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $127.0 | $113.29 |
Detailed Portland Transportation costs vs. Connecticut
| Item | Portland | Connecticut |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.34 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $71.63 | $59.92 |
Detailed Portland Utilities costs vs. Connecticut
| Item | Portland | Connecticut |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $302.09 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $185.16 | $192.25 |
Portland SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Portland
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Portland. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
West Hartford, CT has a cost of living index of 127, 1.1x Portland.
Meriden, CT has a cost of living index of 108, 1.0x Portland.
Middletown, CT has a cost of living index of 111, 1.0x Portland.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Portland |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Hartford, CT | 63,620 | 127 | 1.1x |
| Meriden, CT | 60,545 | 108 | 1.0x |
| Middletown, CT | 47,958 | 111 | 1.0x |
| Manchester, CT | 36,759 | 104 | 0.9x |
| Newington, CT | 30,896 | 110 | 1.0x |
| Wethersfield, CT | 27,250 | 114 | 1.0x |
| North Haven, CT | 24,336 | 123 | 1.1x |
| Kensington, CT | 9,962 | 117 | 1.0x |
| Glastonbury Center, CT | 7,266 | 121 | 1.1x |
