What is the cost of living in Putnam, CT?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Putnam has an overall cost of living index of 103, which is 1.0x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Connecticut, Putnam has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Connecticut's index of 116.
The standard of living in Putnam ranks as #5 most affordable out of the 55 places we measured in Connecticut. By definition, that implies Putnam ranks as the #50 most expensive place in the Constitution State.
For more reading on life in Putnam, check out:
Putnam Cost Of Living Vs. Connecticut
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Putnam. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Putnam is 103.
The Groceries index in Putnam is 105.
The Health index in Putnam is 105.
The Housing index in Putnam is 105.
The Transportation index in Putnam is 105.
The Utilities index in Putnam is 107.
| Living Expense | Putnam | Connecticut | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 103 | 116 | 100 |
| Services | 103 | 107 | 100 |
| Groceries | 105 | 111 | 100 |
| Health | 105 | 137 | 100 |
| Housing | 105 | 108 | 100 |
| Transportation | 105 | 110 | 100 |
| Utilities | 107 | 111 | 100 |
Putnam 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
Putnam, 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 Putnam is $343,176.
The Median Rent in Putnam is $1,147.
The Median Income in Putnam is $65,511.
The Home Value To Income in Putnam is 5.2x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Putnam is 0.21x.
| Statistic | Putnam | Connecticut | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $343,176 | $436,407 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,147 | $1,488 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $65,511 | $95,781 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 5.2x | 4.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.21x | 0.19x | 0.21x |
Putnam, CT Costs By Category
Detailed Putnam Services costs vs. Connecticut
| Item | Putnam | Connecticut |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.43 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $14.37 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $22.72 | $18 |
| Haircut | $31.5 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $49.92 | $45.56 |
Detailed Putnam Groceries costs vs. Connecticut
| Item | Putnam | Connecticut |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.85 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.43 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.74 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.0 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $11.59 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.74 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.46 | $3.7 |
Detailed Putnam Health costs vs. Connecticut
| Item | Putnam | Connecticut |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $104.45 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $169.83 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $130.28 | $113.29 |
Detailed Putnam Transportation costs vs. Connecticut
| Item | Putnam | Connecticut |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.38 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $48.2 | $59.92 |
Detailed Putnam Utilities costs vs. Connecticut
| Item | Putnam | Connecticut |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $230.62 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $195.18 | $192.25 |
Putnam SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Putnam
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Putnam. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Storrs, CT has a cost of living index of 116, 1.1x Putnam.
Webster, MA has a cost of living index of 114, 1.1x Putnam.
Whitinsville, MA has a cost of living index of 122, 1.2x Putnam.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Storrs, CT | 15,207 | 116 | 1.1x |
| Webster, MA | 12,228 | 114 | 1.1x |
| Whitinsville, MA | 7,115 | 122 | 1.2x |
| Oxford, MA | 5,671 | 118 | 1.1x |








