What is the cost of living in Waterbury, CT?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Waterbury has an overall cost of living index of 101, which is 1.0x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Connecticut, Waterbury has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Connecticut's index of 116.
The standard of living in Waterbury ranks as #1 most affordable out of the 55 places we measured in Connecticut. By definition, that implies Waterbury ranks as the #54 most expensive place in the Constitution State.
For more reading on life in Waterbury, check out:
Waterbury Cost Of Living Vs. Connecticut
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Waterbury. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Waterbury is 105.
The Groceries index in Waterbury is 114.
The Health index in Waterbury is 85.
The Housing index in Waterbury is 108.
The Transportation index in Waterbury is 113.
The Utilities index in Waterbury is 111.
| Living Expense | Waterbury | Connecticut | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 101 | 116 | 100 |
| Services | 105 | 107 | 100 |
| Groceries | 114 | 111 | 100 |
| Health | 85 | 137 | 100 |
| Housing | 108 | 108 | 100 |
| Transportation | 113 | 110 | 100 |
| Utilities | 111 | 111 | 100 |
Waterbury 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
Waterbury, 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 Waterbury is $276,344.
The Median Rent in Waterbury is $1,225.
The Median Income in Waterbury is $51,886.
The Home Value To Income in Waterbury is 5.3x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Waterbury is 0.28x.
| Statistic | Waterbury | Connecticut | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $276,344 | $436,407 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,225 | $1,488 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $51,886 | $95,781 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 5.3x | 4.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.28x | 0.19x | 0.21x |
Waterbury, CT Costs By Category
Detailed Waterbury Services costs vs. Connecticut
| Item | Waterbury | 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 Waterbury Groceries costs vs. Connecticut
| Item | Waterbury | 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 Waterbury Health costs vs. Connecticut
| Item | Waterbury | Connecticut |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $134.7 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $162.26 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $136.03 | $113.29 |
Detailed Waterbury Transportation costs vs. Connecticut
| Item | Waterbury | Connecticut |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.47 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $63.33 | $59.92 |
Detailed Waterbury Utilities costs vs. Connecticut
| Item | Waterbury | Connecticut |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $296.64 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $185.16 | $192.25 |
Waterbury SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Waterbury
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Waterbury. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Bristol, CT has a cost of living index of 110, 1.1x Waterbury.
Naugatuck, CT has a cost of living index of 107, 1.1x Waterbury.
Newington, CT has a cost of living index of 110, 1.1x Waterbury.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Waterbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bristol, CT | 61,462 | 110 | 1.1x |
| Naugatuck, CT | 31,800 | 107 | 1.1x |
| Newington, CT | 30,896 | 110 | 1.1x |
| North Haven, CT | 24,336 | 123 | 1.2x |
| Orange, CT | 14,315 | 137 | 1.4x |
| Kensington, CT | 9,962 | 117 | 1.2x |
| Oakville, CT | 9,276 | 113 | 1.1x |
| Terryville, CT | 5,461 | 109 | 1.1x |
