Overall
Connecticut feels cheaper overall
Connecticut has the lower cost-of-living index, beating New Jersey by 8.6 points on the overall affordability baseline.
View detailed comparison
Cost of Living Comparison
Quality of Life
Connecticut vs New Jersey: Cost of Living
Connecticut is cheaper overall by 8.6 cost-of-living points, but Connecticut has lower median home values.
113.1
Composite cost of living index (100 = national average). Lower = more affordable.
New Jersey
NJ • Northeast
121.7
Composite cost of living index (100 = national average). Lower = more affordable.
Visual Comparison
Connecticut
113.1
New Jersey
121.7
Difference: 8.6 points — Connecticut leads.
National Rankings
Where They Rank Nationally
See where both states fall among all 50 states for cost of living.
Connecticut
#38 · 113.1
New Jersey
#45 · 121.7
Best
Worst
10 Best States — Cost of Living
Lower is better
#1
West Virginia
83.6
West Virginia
#2
Mississippi
85.5
Mississippi
#3
Arkansas
87.6
Arkansas
#4
Kentucky
88.0
Kentucky
#5
Alabama
88.6
Alabama
#6
Oklahoma
88.6
Oklahoma
#7
Missouri
90.0
Missouri
#8
Kansas
90.2
Kansas
#9
Iowa
91.0
Iowa
#10
Ohio
91.0
Ohio
Selected states
#38
Connecticut
113.1
Connecticut
#45
New Jersey
121.7
New Jersey
Connecticut ranks 38th and New Jersey ranks 45th nationally for cost of living.
Overview
A fast-reading view of the tradeoffs behind the raw cost numbers.
Living Costs
Housing
pay about 1.2x more for a home
Connecticut has the lower median home value, while buying in New Jersey costs materially more at the median.
View detailed comparisonRent Pressure
Connecticut puts less pressure on a median paycheck
Median rent takes a smaller share of household income in Connecticut than in New Jersey, which makes monthly budgeting easier.
View detailed comparisonTaxes
Connecticut keeps more income after state tax
Connecticut has the lower top state income tax rate, which softens the total cost picture even when prices are close.
View detailed comparisonCost Stack
Connecticut
Overall Affordability
Cost of living index
113.1
Regional price parity
106.9
Regular gas price
$4.082/gal
Electricity price
28.30 c/kWh
Housing
Median gross rent
$1,419/mo
Median home value
$326,200
Owner costs with mortgage
-
Owner costs without mortgage
-
Taxes
State income tax
6.99%
State sales tax
6.35%
Property tax
1.81%
Income
Median household income
$90,213
Income after median rent
$6,099
Minimum wage
$16.35/hr
Laws
Gun laws
Restrictive
Alcohol system
License State
Marijuana status
Legal
New Jersey
Overall Affordability
Cost of living index
121.7
Regional price parity
112.9
Regular gas price
$4.093/gal
Electricity price
23.13 c/kWh
Housing
Median gross rent
$1,576/mo
Median home value
$400,900
Owner costs with mortgage
-
Owner costs without mortgage
-
Taxes
State income tax
10.75%
State sales tax
6.62%
Property tax
2.11%
Income
Median household income
$97,126
Income after median rent
$6,518
Minimum wage
$15.49/hr
Laws
Gun laws
Restrictive
Alcohol system
License State
Marijuana status
Legal
What Stands Out
- Connecticut has lower median home values.
- Connecticut has the lower overall cost index.
- New Jersey has the higher median household income.
- Connecticut looks more attainable on home value to income ratio.
Affordability Ratios
Related Pages
What This Means
Connecticut vs New Jersey: Cost of Living in context
Connecticut has a cost of living of 113.1, compared with 121.7 in New Jersey. Composite cost of living index (100 = national average). Lower = more affordable.
Connecticut
113.1
New Jersey
121.7
Difference
8.6 points
People Also Ask
Connecticut vs New Jersey Cost of Living — Common Questions
Q What is Connecticut's cost of living?
Connecticut's cost of living is 113.1.
Q What is New Jersey's cost of living?
New Jersey's cost of living is 121.7.
Q Which state has a lower cost of living — Connecticut or New Jersey?
Connecticut is cheaper overall by 8.6 cost-of-living points, but Connecticut has lower median home values.
More Comparisons: Connecticut vs New Jersey
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Sources: Core demographic data comes from the 2020 U.S. Census, with land area from U.S. Census Bureau TIGER files. Income, housing, affordability, and tax fields are maintained in our comparison dataset; purchasing-power figures use BEA Regional Price Parities. Minimum wage data comes from the U.S. Department of Labor, gas prices from AAA, and electricity rates from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Political control and election fields use 2024 presidential results together with National Conference of State Legislatures data. Gun-law labels use the Giffords scorecard, alcohol system data comes from NABCA, and marijuana status uses NCSL's state cannabis laws tracker.