New Haven, CT vs Riverside, CA: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, Riverside, CA is 1.8% more expensive than New Haven, CT (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in New Haven works out to about $76,400 in Riverside, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is everyday costs rather than housing: goods are 4.2% higher and other services 1.3% lower in Riverside, while housing is 4.0% higher.
- Typical asking rent is $2,533 a month in Riverside and $2,043 in New Haven, $5,880 a year more in Riverside (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $580,000 in Riverside and $406,000 in New Haven.
- The gap is about where it was in 2019 (1.2%).
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.
Everyday costs, not housing, drive the gap between New Haven and Riverside
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- New Haven, CT
- Riverside, CA
All items New Haven, CT: 104.6 Riverside, CA: 106.4
Goods New Haven, CT: 97.3 Riverside, CA: 101.4
Housing (rents) New Haven, CT: 124.3 Riverside, CA: 129.3
Utilities New Haven, CT: 144.8 Riverside, CA: 148.6
Other services New Haven, CT: 102.7 Riverside, CA: 101.3
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| New Haven, CT | Riverside, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 104.6 | 106.4 |
| Goods | 97.3 | 101.4 |
| Housing (rents) | 124.3 | 129.3 |
| Utilities | 144.8 | 148.6 |
| Other services | 102.7 | 101.3 |
| Category | New Haven | Riverside | Riverside vs New Haven |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 104.6 | 106.4 | +1.8% |
| Goods | 97.3 | 101.4 | +4.2% |
| Housing (rents) | 124.3 | 129.3 | +4.0% |
| Utilities | 144.8 | 148.6 | +2.6% |
| Other services | 102.7 | 101.3 | −1.3% |
| Typical asking rent | $2,043 | $2,533 | +24.0% |
| Typical home value | $406,000 | $580,000 | +42.9% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in New Haven | $75,000 | $76,400 | +1.8% |
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 Riverside has narrowed since 2008: 8.3 points then, 1.9 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- New Haven, CT
- Riverside, CA
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 | Riverside, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 114.6 | 106.3 |
| 2009 | 114.9 | 106.2 |
| 2010 | 109.5 | 105.2 |
| 2011 | 112.1 | 104.6 |
| 2012 | 111.0 | 104.5 |
| 2013 | 110.1 | 105.7 |
| 2014 | 111.4 | 107.1 |
| 2015 | 110.0 | 107.1 |
| 2016 | 109.3 | 105.6 |
| 2017 | 109.5 | 102.8 |
| 2018 | 104.0 | 106.0 |
| 2019 | 104.4 | 105.7 |
| 2020 | 104.0 | 104.4 |
| 2021 | 102.7 | 105.6 |
| 2022 | 106.3 | 106.7 |
| 2023 | 105.4 | 107.3 |
| 2024 | 104.6 | 106.4 |
Goods
- New Haven, CT
- Riverside, CA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| New Haven, CT | Riverside, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 115.5 | 103.6 |
| 2009 | 113.8 | 100.8 |
| 2010 | 107.5 | 98.5 |
| 2011 | 107.9 | 99.7 |
| 2012 | 109.5 | 102.0 |
| 2013 | 109.2 | 105.3 |
| 2014 | 107.4 | 104.7 |
| 2015 | 106.1 | 103.2 |
| 2016 | 107.1 | 100.1 |
| 2017 | 107.9 | 99.3 |
| 2018 | 101.4 | 99.8 |
| 2019 | 98.7 | 100.2 |
| 2020 | 99.0 | 102.8 |
| 2021 | 97.0 | 100.7 |
| 2022 | 101.1 | 102.5 |
| 2023 | 98.6 | 102.0 |
| 2024 | 97.3 | 101.4 |
Housing (rents)
- New Haven, CT
- Riverside, CA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| New Haven, CT | Riverside, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 137.1 | 138.0 |
| 2009 | 143.5 | 134.2 |
| 2010 | 128.2 | 131.7 |
| 2011 | 137.4 | 129.4 |
| 2012 | 132.4 | 123.8 |
| 2013 | 126.4 | 126.2 |
| 2014 | 135.2 | 125.1 |
| 2015 | 134.2 | 121.6 |
| 2016 | 122.4 | 124.6 |
| 2017 | 123.0 | 123.6 |
| 2018 | 120.0 | 126.1 |
| 2019 | 119.6 | 128.8 |
| 2020 | 113.0 | 126.3 |
| 2021 | 117.8 | 129.6 |
| 2022 | 119.5 | 129.2 |
| 2023 | 124.1 | 132.0 |
| 2024 | 124.3 | 129.3 |
Utilities
- New Haven, CT
- Riverside, CA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| New Haven, CT | Riverside, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 155.0 | 113.7 |
| 2009 | 156.8 | 112.4 |
| 2010 | 146.6 | 114.7 |
| 2011 | 138.5 | 116.5 |
| 2012 | 137.1 | 122.9 |
| 2013 | 137.1 | 119.8 |
| 2014 | 135.5 | 130.2 |
| 2015 | 139.8 | 130.8 |
| 2016 | 145.4 | 132.5 |
| 2017 | 147.8 | 138.1 |
| 2018 | 138.9 | 145.8 |
| 2019 | 141.2 | 152.1 |
| 2020 | 159.3 | 144.5 |
| 2021 | 145.7 | 151.5 |
| 2022 | 138.7 | 155.2 |
| 2023 | 150.3 | 164.3 |
| 2024 | 144.8 | 148.6 |
Other services
- New Haven, CT
- Riverside, CA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| New Haven, CT | Riverside, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 106.7 | 98.1 |
| 2009 | 106.1 | 99.9 |
| 2010 | 104.2 | 100.0 |
| 2011 | 107.0 | 99.1 |
| 2012 | 104.8 | 98.9 |
| 2013 | 105.2 | 98.8 |
| 2014 | 106.4 | 101.7 |
| 2015 | 105.0 | 103.8 |
| 2016 | 105.7 | 101.9 |
| 2017 | 105.7 | 97.6 |
| 2018 | 100.2 | 102.5 |
| 2019 | 102.3 | 100.7 |
| 2020 | 102.4 | 97.3 |
| 2021 | 100.8 | 100.5 |
| 2022 | 104.9 | 101.1 |
| 2023 | 103.0 | 101.6 |
| 2024 | 102.7 | 101.3 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $2,533 in Riverside vs $2,043 in New Haven
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- New Haven, CT
- Riverside, CA
- 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 | Riverside, CA | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $1,141 | $1,294 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $1,147 | $1,317 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $1,154 | $1,342 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $1,136 | $1,351 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $1,174 | $1,366 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $1,191 | $1,384 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $1,175 | $1,405 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $1,169 | $1,410 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $1,197 | $1,444 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $1,217 | $1,478 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $1,211 | $1,498 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $1,202 | $1,512 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $1,234 | $1,538 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $1,250 | $1,564 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $1,252 | $1,591 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $1,248 | $1,604 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $1,286 | $1,622 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $1,297 | $1,648 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $1,287 | $1,672 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $1,294 | $1,678 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $1,330 | $1,697 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $1,349 | $1,708 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $1,360 | $1,789 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $1,377 | $1,845 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $1,415 | $1,917 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $1,469 | $2,008 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $1,530 | $2,133 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $1,549 | $2,159 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,589 | $2,226 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,657 | $2,295 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,683 | $2,312 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,682 | $2,289 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,718 | $2,314 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,772 | $2,338 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,804 | $2,347 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,819 | $2,344 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,855 | $2,368 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,910 | $2,393 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,926 | $2,422 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,928 | $2,418 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,959 | $2,446 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,982 | $2,461 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,990 | $2,462 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $2,006 | $2,467 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $2,005 | $2,493 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $2,030 | $2,518 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $2,043 | $2,533 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $580,000 in Riverside vs $406,000 in New Haven
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- New Haven, CT
- Riverside, CA
- 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 | Riverside, CA | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $209K | $285K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $210K | $290K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $211K | $295K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $211K | $297K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $211K | $304K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $212K | $311K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $212K | $312K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $213K | $306K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $214K | $318K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $217K | $330K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $218K | $339K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $219K | $352K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $221K | $359K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $222K | $363K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $223K | $368K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $224K | $374K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $227K | $376K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $228K | $375K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $229K | $377K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $231K | $385K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $236K | $391K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $239K | $392K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $243K | $400K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $256K | $424K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $269K | $446K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $283K | $474K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $287K | $497K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $288K | $517K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $304K | $546K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $318K | $574K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $321K | $571K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $322K | $562K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $324K | $549K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $334K | $552K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $346K | $564K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $355K | $575K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $361K | $579K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $369K | $586K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $374K | $590K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $378K | $594K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $381K | $590K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $383K | $583K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $387K | $577K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $392K | $579K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $398K | $582K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $402K | $580K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $406K | $580K | $366K |
More about each city
- Cost of living in New Haven, CT
- Cost of living in Riverside, CA
- Reverse: moving from Riverside to New Haven
Related comparisons
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.