What is the cost of living in Stamford, CT?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Stamford has an overall cost of living index of 158, which is 1.6x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Connecticut, Stamford has a cost of living index that's 1.4x higher than Connecticut's index of 116.
The standard of living in Stamford ranks as #50 most affordable out of the 55 places we measured in Connecticut. By definition, that implies Stamford ranks as the #5 most expensive place in the Constitution State.
For more reading on life in Stamford, check out:
Stamford Cost Of Living Vs. Connecticut
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Stamford. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Stamford is 108.
The Groceries index in Stamford is 108.
The Health index in Stamford is 264.
The Housing index in Stamford is 113.
The Transportation index in Stamford is 107.
The Utilities index in Stamford is 118.
| Living Expense | Stamford | Connecticut | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 158 | 116 | 100 |
| Services | 108 | 107 | 100 |
| Groceries | 108 | 111 | 100 |
| Health | 264 | 137 | 100 |
| Housing | 113 | 108 | 100 |
| Transportation | 107 | 110 | 100 |
| Utilities | 118 | 111 | 100 |
Stamford 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
Stamford, 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 Stamford is $704,417.
The Median Rent in Stamford is $2,276.
The Median Income in Stamford is $111,586.
The Home Value To Income in Stamford is 6.3x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Stamford is 0.24x.
| Statistic | Stamford | Connecticut | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $704,417 | $436,407 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,276 | $1,488 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $111,586 | $95,781 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 6.3x | 4.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.24x | 0.19x | 0.21x |
Stamford, CT Costs By Category
Detailed Stamford Services costs vs. Connecticut
| Item | Stamford | Connecticut |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.5 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $13.76 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $19.63 | $18 |
| Haircut | $32.33 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $48.56 | $45.56 |
Detailed Stamford Groceries costs vs. Connecticut
| Item | Stamford | Connecticut |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.34 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.61 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.73 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.03 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $10.07 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.62 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.66 | $3.7 |
Detailed Stamford Health costs vs. Connecticut
| Item | Stamford | Connecticut |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $140.1 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $143.23 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $123.0 | $113.29 |
Detailed Stamford Transportation costs vs. Connecticut
| Item | Stamford | Connecticut |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.33 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $57.68 | $59.92 |
Detailed Stamford Utilities costs vs. Connecticut
| Item | Stamford | Connecticut |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $281.67 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $185.16 | $192.25 |
Stamford SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Stamford
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Stamford. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Norwalk, CT has a cost of living index of 143, 0.9x Stamford.
Huntington, NY has a cost of living index of 168, 1.1x Stamford.
Mamaroneck, NY has a cost of living index of 165, 1.0x Stamford.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Stamford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Norwalk, CT | 92,187 | 143 | 0.9x |
| Huntington, NY | 19,948 | 168 | 1.1x |
| Mamaroneck, NY | 19,826 | 165 | 1.0x |
| Syosset, NY | 18,433 | 180 | 1.1x |
| Port Washington, NY | 18,004 | 196 | 1.2x |
| Greenwich, CT | 14,792 | 235 | 1.5x |
| Riverside, CT | 8,954 | 277 | 1.8x |
| Cos Cob, CT | 7,546 | 217 | 1.4x |
| Briarcliff Manor, NY | 7,519 | 178 | 1.1x |
| Pleasantville, NY | 7,371 | 178 | 1.1x |
