What is the cost of living in West Haven, CT?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, West Haven has an overall cost of living index of 111, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Connecticut, West Haven has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than Connecticut's index of 116.
The standard of living in West Haven ranks as #21 most affordable out of the 55 places we measured in Connecticut. By definition, that implies West Haven ranks as the #34 most expensive place in the Constitution State.
For more reading on life in West Haven, check out:
West Haven Cost Of Living Vs. Connecticut
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in West Haven. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in West Haven is 103.
The Groceries index in West Haven is 115.
The Health index in West Haven is 115.
The Housing index in West Haven is 104.
The Transportation index in West Haven is 109.
The Utilities index in West Haven is 104.
| Living Expense | West Haven | Connecticut | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 111 | 116 | 100 |
| Services | 103 | 107 | 100 |
| Groceries | 115 | 111 | 100 |
| Health | 115 | 137 | 100 |
| Housing | 104 | 108 | 100 |
| Transportation | 109 | 110 | 100 |
| Utilities | 104 | 111 | 100 |
West 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
West 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 West Haven is $354,725.
The Median Rent in West Haven is $1,442.
The Median Income in West Haven is $74,382.
The Home Value To Income in West Haven is 4.8x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in West Haven is 0.23x.
| Statistic | West Haven | Connecticut | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $354,725 | $436,407 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,442 | $1,488 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $74,382 | $95,781 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.8x | 4.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.23x | 0.19x | 0.21x |
West Haven, CT Costs By Category
Detailed West Haven Services costs vs. Connecticut
| Item | West 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 West Haven Groceries costs vs. Connecticut
| Item | West 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 West Haven Health costs vs. Connecticut
| Item | West Haven | Connecticut |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $134.7 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $162.26 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $136.03 | $113.29 |
Detailed West Haven Transportation costs vs. Connecticut
| Item | West Haven | Connecticut |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.47 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $63.33 | $59.92 |
Detailed West Haven Utilities costs vs. Connecticut
| Item | West Haven | Connecticut |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $296.64 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $185.16 | $192.25 |
West Haven SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around West Haven
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around West Haven. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
New Haven, CT has a cost of living index of 114, 1.0x West Haven.
Shelton, CT has a cost of living index of 129, 1.2x West Haven.
East Haven, CT has a cost of living index of 112, 1.0x West Haven.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. West Haven |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Haven, CT | 134,349 | 114 | 1.0x |
| Shelton, CT | 41,889 | 129 | 1.2x |
| 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 |
