New Haven, CT vs Hartford, CT: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, Hartford, CT is 1.7% less expensive than New Haven, CT (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in New Haven works out to about $73,700 in Hartford, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is housing, which costs 11.3% less in Hartford. Goods are 0.0% higher and other services 0.0% higher.
- Typical asking rent is $1,998 a month in Hartford and $2,043 in New Haven, nearly the same (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $399,000 in Hartford and $406,000 in New Haven.
- The gap is about where it was in 2019 (1.5%).
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) and Zillow data. Based on an average household's spending; taxes not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both cities against the US average (100). The gap in each row is what matters for a move.
Housing drives the gap: 11.3% lower in Hartford than in New Haven
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- New Haven, CT
- Hartford, CT
All items New Haven, CT: 104.6 Hartford, CT: 102.7
Goods New Haven, CT: 97.3 Hartford, CT: 97.3
Housing (rents) New Haven, CT: 124.3 Hartford, CT: 110.2
Utilities New Haven, CT: 144.8 Hartford, CT: 144.9
Other services New Haven, CT: 102.7 Hartford, CT: 102.7
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| New Haven, CT | Hartford, CT | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 104.6 | 102.7 |
| Goods | 97.3 | 97.3 |
| Housing (rents) | 124.3 | 110.2 |
| Utilities | 144.8 | 144.9 |
| Other services | 102.7 | 102.7 |
| Category | New Haven | Hartford | Hartford vs New Haven |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 104.6 | 102.7 | −1.7% |
| Goods | 97.3 | 97.3 | 0.0% |
| Housing (rents) | 124.3 | 110.2 | −11.3% |
| Utilities | 144.8 | 144.9 | 0.0% |
| Other services | 102.7 | 102.7 | 0.0% |
| Typical asking rent | $2,043 | $1,998 | −2.2% |
| Typical home value | $406,000 | $399,000 | −1.8% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in New Haven | $75,000 | $73,700 | −1.7% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent and home values: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between New Haven and Hartford has narrowed since 2008: 9.8 points then, 1.8 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- New Haven, CT
- Hartford, CT
US average = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| New Haven, CT | Hartford, CT | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 114.6 | 104.8 |
| 2009 | 114.9 | 104.7 |
| 2010 | 109.5 | 103.0 |
| 2011 | 112.1 | 102.4 |
| 2012 | 111.0 | 102.8 |
| 2013 | 110.1 | 102.1 |
| 2014 | 111.4 | 100.7 |
| 2015 | 110.0 | 103.3 |
| 2016 | 109.3 | 102.9 |
| 2017 | 109.5 | 103.6 |
| 2018 | 104.0 | 102.5 |
| 2019 | 104.4 | 102.9 |
| 2020 | 104.0 | 104.0 |
| 2021 | 102.7 | 102.1 |
| 2022 | 106.3 | 105.1 |
| 2023 | 105.4 | 103.3 |
| 2024 | 104.6 | 102.7 |
Goods
- New Haven, CT
- Hartford, CT
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| New Haven, CT | Hartford, CT | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 115.5 | 101.3 |
| 2009 | 113.8 | 101.3 |
| 2010 | 107.5 | 98.2 |
| 2011 | 107.9 | 98.1 |
| 2012 | 109.5 | 97.4 |
| 2013 | 109.2 | 97.3 |
| 2014 | 107.4 | 97.2 |
| 2015 | 106.1 | 98.9 |
| 2016 | 107.1 | 98.4 |
| 2017 | 107.9 | 99.3 |
| 2018 | 101.4 | 101.4 |
| 2019 | 98.7 | 98.7 |
| 2020 | 99.0 | 99.0 |
| 2021 | 97.0 | 97.0 |
| 2022 | 101.1 | 101.1 |
| 2023 | 98.6 | 98.6 |
| 2024 | 97.3 | 97.3 |
Housing (rents)
- New Haven, CT
- Hartford, CT
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| New Haven, CT | Hartford, CT | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 137.1 | 121.0 |
| 2009 | 143.5 | 120.9 |
| 2010 | 128.2 | 122.8 |
| 2011 | 137.4 | 119.2 |
| 2012 | 132.4 | 125.2 |
| 2013 | 126.4 | 113.3 |
| 2014 | 135.2 | 114.1 |
| 2015 | 134.2 | 120.1 |
| 2016 | 122.4 | 114.1 |
| 2017 | 123.0 | 112.8 |
| 2018 | 120.0 | 110.4 |
| 2019 | 119.6 | 109.8 |
| 2020 | 113.0 | 114.3 |
| 2021 | 117.8 | 114.0 |
| 2022 | 119.5 | 110.1 |
| 2023 | 124.1 | 109.7 |
| 2024 | 124.3 | 110.2 |
Utilities
- New Haven, CT
- Hartford, CT
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| New Haven, CT | Hartford, CT | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 155.0 | 151.3 |
| 2009 | 156.8 | 154.6 |
| 2010 | 146.6 | 144.3 |
| 2011 | 138.5 | 136.4 |
| 2012 | 137.1 | 131.0 |
| 2013 | 137.1 | 129.6 |
| 2014 | 135.5 | 133.3 |
| 2015 | 139.8 | 134.8 |
| 2016 | 145.4 | 137.0 |
| 2017 | 147.8 | 139.4 |
| 2018 | 138.9 | 139.6 |
| 2019 | 141.2 | 142.6 |
| 2020 | 159.3 | 159.5 |
| 2021 | 145.7 | 146.0 |
| 2022 | 138.7 | 139.9 |
| 2023 | 150.3 | 152.0 |
| 2024 | 144.8 | 144.9 |
Other services
- New Haven, CT
- Hartford, CT
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| New Haven, CT | Hartford, CT | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 106.7 | 101.3 |
| 2009 | 106.1 | 101.0 |
| 2010 | 104.2 | 99.6 |
| 2011 | 107.0 | 99.7 |
| 2012 | 104.8 | 99.6 |
| 2013 | 105.2 | 101.3 |
| 2014 | 106.4 | 98.5 |
| 2015 | 105.0 | 100.9 |
| 2016 | 105.7 | 101.7 |
| 2017 | 105.7 | 102.8 |
| 2018 | 100.2 | 100.2 |
| 2019 | 102.3 | 102.3 |
| 2020 | 102.4 | 102.4 |
| 2021 | 100.8 | 100.8 |
| 2022 | 104.9 | 104.9 |
| 2023 | 103.0 | 103.0 |
| 2024 | 102.7 | 102.7 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $1,998 in Hartford vs $2,043 in New Haven
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- New Haven, CT
- Hartford, CT
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| New Haven, CT | Hartford, CT | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $1,141 | $1,145 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $1,147 | $1,161 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $1,154 | $1,172 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $1,136 | $1,177 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $1,174 | $1,173 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $1,191 | $1,189 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $1,175 | $1,190 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $1,169 | $1,192 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $1,197 | $1,198 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $1,217 | $1,226 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $1,211 | $1,217 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $1,202 | $1,214 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $1,234 | $1,235 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $1,250 | $1,258 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $1,252 | $1,250 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $1,248 | $1,255 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $1,286 | $1,260 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $1,297 | $1,293 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $1,287 | $1,289 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $1,294 | $1,287 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $1,330 | $1,307 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $1,349 | $1,324 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $1,360 | $1,351 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $1,377 | $1,366 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $1,415 | $1,394 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $1,469 | $1,450 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $1,530 | $1,505 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $1,549 | $1,524 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,589 | $1,550 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,657 | $1,597 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,683 | $1,631 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,682 | $1,631 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,718 | $1,666 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,772 | $1,721 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,804 | $1,742 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,819 | $1,740 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,855 | $1,783 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,910 | $1,841 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,926 | $1,862 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,928 | $1,868 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,959 | $1,888 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,982 | $1,924 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,990 | $1,931 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $2,006 | $1,929 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $2,005 | $1,945 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $2,030 | $1,981 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $2,043 | $1,998 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $399,000 in Hartford vs $406,000 in New Haven
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- New Haven, CT
- Hartford, CT
- United States
Source: Zillow Home Value Index (typical home value, middle tier, smoothed, seasonally adjusted), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| New Haven, CT | Hartford, CT | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $209K | $214K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $210K | $215K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $211K | $216K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $211K | $217K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $211K | $217K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $212K | $218K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $212K | $218K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $213K | $220K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $214K | $221K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $217K | $223K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $218K | $225K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $219K | $226K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $221K | $227K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $222K | $227K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $223K | $227K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $224K | $227K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $227K | $228K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $228K | $229K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $229K | $230K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $231K | $231K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $236K | $235K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $239K | $237K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $243K | $240K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $256K | $252K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $269K | $262K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $283K | $273K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $287K | $276K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $288K | $277K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $304K | $290K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $318K | $304K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $321K | $307K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $322K | $308K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $324K | $311K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $334K | $321K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $346K | $335K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $355K | $343K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $361K | $350K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $369K | $359K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $374K | $364K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $378K | $367K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $381K | $370K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $383K | $374K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $387K | $379K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $392K | $384K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $398K | $389K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $402K | $394K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $406K | $399K | $366K |
More about each city
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State and local income, sales and property taxes can change the result a lot, especially between states.
- Neighborhoods. These are metro-wide averages; a city center and its outer suburbs can differ by more than two metros do.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider above if rent is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels are for 2024; Zillow figures are monthly and newer.