C
14%
Overall NAT. AVG.
7%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
24%
Housing NAT. AVG.
Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index East Haven Connecticut National
Cost of living114119100
Goods & Services107110100
Groceries103104100
Health care113111100
Housing124139100
Transportation102104100
Utilities135131100
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An Overview of Cost of Living in East Haven, CT

Getting a feel for the cost of living in East Haven is essential for anyone planning to relocate, as it empowers them to make informed financial decisions, secure a comfortable lifestyle and maintain financial stability in their new environment. The cost of living in East Haven is 114, which is 14% higher than the national average. Relocating individuals may need to adjust their savings and investment strategies based on the cost of living in the new location. It influences decisions about retirement planning, investments and financial goals.

Housing costs make up a big chunk of the cost of living in East Haven, and they usually eat into a large part of your take-home pay. Unfortunately, in this area, both buying a home and renting one costs 23.7% more than the average city. This includes stuff like home prices, rent, mortgage rates, and insurance.

What Do Locals Say About the Cost of Living in East Haven?

Locals have the inside scoop on their city. So, we polled 10 residents in East Haven to learn how they view the cost of living. We asked how they felt about the cost of living in their area, and if they thought that prices were increasing, decreasing or staying the same. The verdict? 50% find it reasonable with decreasing prices, but 50% think it's quite pricey, with prices that continue to rise.

Is East Haven Affordable?

Is East Haven affordable? It's a key consideration when pondering a move, as affordability often shapes your choices. The cost of living index (we discussed it earlier), coupled with housing costs and income levels, serves as the cornerstone for determining a location's affordability. Take East Haven, for instance, where the median home price falls 23.8% higher than the national average, and monthly rent rates are 23.5% higher than usual. Additionally, median income levels contribute to the equation, with East Haven flaunting a median household income of $100,000, 23% higher than the national norm.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in East Haven?

Taxes: Cities that impose higher taxes, including sales and income taxes, can contribute to an escalated cost of living. The added expense of taxes on everyday goods like clothing and food naturally results in higher overall costs. Similarly, a higher income tax rate can further elevate the cost of living. In East Haven, the general sales tax rate starts at 6.35%, and income tax rates begin at 3%.

Subsidies: Certain cities or states may implement government subsidies or assistance programs with the goal of alleviating the cost of living pressures on their residents. These programs encompass a broad spectrum of support mechanisms, including Medicare, Medicaid, housing subsidies, low-income home energy assistance programs, school lunch programs, supplemental nutrition assistance programs, student loans, electric vehicle tax credits, affordable care act subsidies and farming subsidies. Areas offering fewer subsidies may experience a rise in their cost of living.

Healthcare: Healthcare expenditures and insurance premium rates can vary significantly, contingent upon the particular city or state. Factors such as the accessibility of healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for doctor's appointments, dental care charges, prescription medication costs, and expenses related to specialized medical care can all have an impact on the overall cost of living. In East Haven, healthcare costs are 12.6% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The East Haven cost of living data displayed above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index to provide a useful and reasonably accurate measure of living cost differences in urban areas. The index takes into account data from 300 independent researches, covering more than 60 goods and services across 6 different categories, to create an overall index for each area, with 100 being the average. The C2ER index does not include sales or income tax rates in their data, however AreaVibes does include both income and sales tax rates in the overall cost of living score for each area.

Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in East Haven is 4% lower than the Connecticut average
  • The cost of living in East Haven is 14% higher than the national average
  • East Haven housing is 24% higher than the national average
  • Connecticut general sales tax is 24% higher than the national average
  • Connecticut state income tax is 16% higher than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around East Haven

See all the best places to live around East Haven

Compare East Haven, CT Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

      This is how much you would need to earn in
      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$122,576$10,215$2,860$3,678
      Renters$68,626$5,719$1,601$2,059
      The percentage of monthly income spent on housing related expenses can help predict the affordability of housing in East Haven, CT, as well as what the overall cost of living might be. Generally, a good rule to follow is that the debt-to-income (DTI) level you want to maintain is 28 percent or less of your income on your rent or mortgage payments and not more than 36 percent of income on all expenses and debts. In East Haven, homeowners have a median income of $122,576. Using that number, a maximum of $2,860 per month should be allocated to housing expenses. For those who are renting instead of owning, the median income is $68,626, which means there is a maximum of $1,601 to be spent on the costs of renting a home or apartment.

      Connecticut Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      Connecticut 6.35% 6.35%

      Connecticut Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      Connecticut 3% 6.99%

      Goods & Services

      Item East Haven National avg. Difference
      Haircut $32.63$27.6218.2%
      Beauty Salon $65.50$51.1128.2%
      Toothpaste $4.14$4.091.2%
      Shampoo $1.69$1.549.6%
      Movie $13.63$12.885.8%
      Yoga $22.03$19.6612.0%

      Groceries

      Item East Haven National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $7.48$7.702.9%
      Fried Chicken $1.54$1.667.4%
      Milk $5.02$4.736.1%
      Potatoes $5.24$5.260.3%
      Pizza $10.17$12.7620.3%
      Beer $11.05$10.554.7%

      Health Care

      Item East Haven National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $220.55$140.0657.5%
      Doctor $197.11$153.8228.1%
      Dentist $129.70$123.155.3%
      Ibuprofen $12.12$11.733.3%
      Lipitor $21.90$23.617.2%

      Housing

      Item East Haven National avg. Difference
      Home Price $404,438.00$326,622.0023.8%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,947.46$2,480.2521.5%
      Apartment Rent $1,783.00$1,444.0023.5%

      Transportation

      Item East Haven National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.05$3.060.1%
      Tire Balancing $70.37$65.217.9%

      Utilities

      Item East Haven National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $349.42$220.1258.7%
      Phone $189.68$195.713.1%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Naugatuck, CT32,2411099.1%
      Derby, CT12,68411110.7%
      West Haven, CT56,25811110.8%
      Ansonia, CT19,45611212.4%
      New Haven, CT134,81811312.8%
      East Haven, CT29,45611414.1%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Burbank, IL29,4511098.6%
      Mehlville, MO29,470927.6%
      Lake in the Hills, IL29,4851099.3%
      Jacksonville, AR29,495927.5%
      Monterey, CA29,41019999.2%
      East Haven, CT29,45611414.1%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; this is the most current data available.