Cost of living index

New Haven, CT

104.6 / 100

Living in New Haven, CT is 4.6% more expensive than the US average — the #32 of 387 highest nationally.

Median rent: $1,463/mo

Median home value: $328,300

Figures — including the cost index, median rent, and median home value — cover the wider New Haven, CT metropolitan area, not individual neighbourhoods or city boundaries.

Winter
41° / 25°F
(5° / -4°C)
9.1 in precip
Spring
58° / 40°F
(14° / 4°C)
11.4 in precip
Summer
80° / 63°F
(27° / 17°C)
10.4 in precip
Fall
64° / 46°F
(18° / 8°C)
10.9 in precip

30-year climate normals (1991–2020) from NEW HAVEN TWEED AP, via NOAA.

The New Haven, CT metro area has an overall price level of 104.6 compared with the national average of 100, meaning everyday costs run about 4.6% higher than a typical US metro. Housing tells the sharper story: at 124.3 it is 24.3% above the national average. Housing rents are often one of the largest sources of difference between metro areas, so this figure can have a significant impact when comparing locations.

Overall#32 of 387
104.6
Goods#98 of 387
97.3
Housing rents#35 of 387
124.3
Utilities#39 of 387
144.8
Other services#21 of 387
102.7

New Haven, CT is moved up the most by utilities, at 144.8 vs a US average of 100, while the closest to average is goods.

Browse Connecticut →See the cheapest and most expensive US metros →

Figures on this page come from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities dataset, 2024 — the most recent year published. An index of 100 marks the national average; a metro above 100 has higher prices than a typical US metro, below 100 lower. Median rent and median home value are from the US Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) 2023 5-year estimates, and seasonal weather is from NOAA’s 1991–2020 climate normals. These are regional figures only, not a complete personal budget — they don’t account for individual spending habits, taxes, or household circumstances. See the full methodology for how the index and salary-equivalent estimates are calculated.

Compare My City is an independent project and is not operated by, endorsed by, or affiliated with the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the Census Bureau, or NOAA.

Is New Haven, CT an expensive place to live?

New Haven, CT has an overall cost-of-living index of 104.6, where 100 is the US average. That makes it about 4.6% more expensive than the country as a whole.

Is housing expensive in New Haven, CT?

Housing rents in New Haven, CT score 124.3 against a US average of 100 — roughly 24.3% above average. Housing rents are often the main driver of differences in overall price levels between metro areas.

How does New Haven, CT compare to the US average cost of living?

Overall prices in New Haven, CT sit at 104.6 versus 100 for the US average, with housing at 124.3. Figures come from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis for 2024.