| Index | Bristol | Connecticut | National |
| Cost of living | 110 | 118 | 100 |
| Groceries | 107 | 106 | 100 |
| Health care | 109 | 111 | 100 |
| Housing | 112 | 139 | 100 |
| Transportation | 104 | 107 | 100 |
| Utilities | 110 | 108 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 111 | 110 | 100 |
| Household Items | 108 | 106 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 115 | 116 | 100 |
The cost of living in Bristol affects the quality of life one can afford in this new location. It allows people to assess whether they can maintain their preferred lifestyle, including housing, leisure activities and dining options. Your total monthly expenditures can varry depending on the area, as well as many other factors. The cost of living in Bristol is 110, which is 10% higher than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.
Everyday expenditures like food, housing, lifestyle expenses, transportation and health care in Bristol are priced in a manner consistent with other areas. This means that residents of Bristol can anticipate their daily expenses remaining reasonably similar to those in an average city, thereby supporting a manageable cost of living.
Wondering if Bristol is affordable? It's a question that often comes up when you're thinking about a new city since affordability can really shape your decisions. The cost of living index (covered earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a part in the affordability equation. In Bristol, for example, the median home price is 10.6% higher than what folks pay nationally, and monthly rent is 14.6% higher than the usual rates. Plus, income levels matter too, with Bristol boasting a median household income of $101,353, which is 24.6% higher than the national average.
Transportation: If public transportation is limited or not available, residents may need to own and maintain vehicles, which can add to the cost of living. Gas, insurance, regular maintenance and potentially lease or finance payments will all need to be paid on a monthly basis. In Bristol, the transportation index is 4.2% higher than the national average.
Utilities: Much like any other costs, utility expenses can exhibit considerable variations, influenced by factors such as climate, available energy sources, geographic location and state regulations. The costs associated with electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can vary significantly depending on the city or state in question. In Bristol, the utilities index stands at 10.4% higher than the national average.
Urbanization: Larger, urban areas boasting abundant amenities and robust employment prospects often exhibit a heightened cost of living, driven by the increased demand for services and residential relocation. Consequently, this leads to elevated home prices and higher rental rates. In contrast, sparsely populated rural locales or regions marked by diminished demand typically offer a more limited range of amenities and experience slower job market expansion. This translates into a more affordable cost of living.
The Bristol cost of living data displayed above uses a U.S. average baseline of 100 to provide a practical way to compare living expenses across cities. Housing estimates incorporate U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all other values are generated using AI-assisted models based on everyday expense expectations, regional pricing trends, climate, transportation patterns, and local economic conditions. These values are designed for directional city-to-city comparisons.
| Cost of living index | |
| Groceries index | |
| Health care index | |
| Housing index | |
| Transportation index | |
| Utilities index | |
| Lifestyle index | |
| Household index | |
| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $136,736 | $11,395 | $3,190 | $4,102 |
| Renters | $58,101 | $4,842 | $1,356 | $1,743 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| Connecticut | 6.35% | 6.35% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| Connecticut | 3% | 6.99% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Waterbury, CT | 110,817 | 102 | 2.2% |
| Blue Hills, CT | 2,652 | 104 | 3.6% |
| Torrington, CT | 35,543 | 102 | 2.3% |
| New Britain, CT | 74,963 | 104 | 4.4% |
| Hartford, CT | 125,397 | 106 | 5.6% |
| Bristol, CT | 61,512 | 110 | 9.5% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Taylorsville, UT | 61,503 | 111 | 11.5% |
| Woodland, CA | 61,522 | 138 | 38.0% |
| San Rafael, CA | 61,485 | 213 | 112.7% |
| Royal Oak, MI | 61,485 | 106 | 6.0% |
| West Allis, WI | 61,432 | 93 | 6.8% |
| Bristol, CT | 61,512 | 110 | 9.5% |
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