A
2%
Overall NAT. AVG.
7%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
14%
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 Willimantic Connecticut National
Cost of living102119100
Goods & Services107110100
Groceries103104100
Health care103111100
Housing86139100
Transportation104104100
Utilities126131100
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An Overview of Cost of Living in Willimantic, CT

Knowing the cost of living in Willimantic allows individuals to create a realistic budget. This helps them understand how their income will cover expenses and whether they need to make financial adjustments. The cost of living in any region can fluctuate due to various factors. To assess the cost of living consistently across different areas, a national average of 100 serves as the basis for the cost of living index. The cost of living in Willimantic stands at 102, marking it 2% higher than the national average.

Everyday expenditures like food, housing, goods and services, transportation and health care in Willimantic are priced in a manner consistent with other areas. This means that residents of Willimantic can anticipate their daily expenses remaining reasonably similar to those in an average city, thereby supporting a manageable cost of living.

Is Willimantic Affordable?

Is Willimantic an affordable place to live? That's a valid question to ask when you're thinking about moving to a new city. After all, how much it costs to live somewhere can be a huge factor in your decision. Affordability can be broken down into 3 common categories. The cost of living index (we talked about it earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a big role in figuring out if a place is affordable. For instance, in Willimantic, the median home price is 16.2% lower than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 8.8% lower than the usual rates. Income levels in Willimantic come in at $52,905, which is 35% lower than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Willimantic?

Healthcare: Healthcare expenses and insurance premiums can vary significantly depending on the specific city or state. Factors such as accessibility to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for doctor's visits, dental care expenses, prescription costs and specialized medical care fees can all influence the overall cost of living. In Willimantic, healthcare costs are 2.7% higher than the national average.

Subsidies: Certain regions may provide government subsidies or assistance initiatives designed to alleviate the cost of living burden on their residents. These programs encompass a wide range of support mechanisms, such as 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 with fewer subsidy offerings might experience an elevation in their cost of living.

Groceries: Grocery costs have continued to increase significantly over the last 2-3 years. In some markets the cost of food has gone up by more than 20% in that period. While other markets have managed to see only a moderate uptick. These food costs can have a major impact on the cost of living in any area. In Willimantic, the groceries index is 3.2% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The cost of living data in Willimantic displayed above is sourced from the C2ER cost of living index, which serves as a practical tool for comparing living expenses across urban areas. Published on a quarterly basis, this index aggregates data from over 300 independent researchers, encompassing more than 60 goods and services, in 6 different categories. The weightings assigned to cost differences rely on government survey data that tracks the spending habits of professional and executive households. It's worth noting that the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, while AreaVibes integrates tax rates into the overall cost of living evaluation for each region.

Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Willimantic is 15% lower than the Connecticut average
  • The cost of living in Willimantic is 2% higher than the national average
  • Willimantic housing is 14% lower 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 Willimantic

See all the best places to live around Willimantic

Compare Willimantic, 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$107,298$8,942$2,503$3,219
      Renters$32,936$2,745$768$988
      The affordability of the housing market in Willimantic, CT as well as the overall cost of living can be predicted by what percent of the monthly income is spent on housing related costs. This is konwn as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). The overall rule of thumb is that no more than 28% of your gross income should be spent on the overall costs related to housing and no more than 36% of gross income on all expenses and debts. Among Willimantic homeowners, the median income is $107,298. This indicates that a monthly maximum of $2,503 should be spent by homeowners on all housing related costs. Renters have a median income of $32,936. This indicates that renters would have a maximum of $768 for their rent related monthly costs.

      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 Willimantic National avg. Difference
      Haircut $32.86$27.6219.0%
      Beauty Salon $58.89$51.1115.2%
      Toothpaste $4.16$4.091.6%
      Shampoo $1.70$1.5410.2%
      Movie $14.05$12.889.1%
      Yoga $20.18$19.662.6%

      Groceries

      Item Willimantic National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $7.48$7.702.9%
      Fried Chicken $1.57$1.665.6%
      Milk $5.07$4.737.1%
      Potatoes $5.16$5.261.8%
      Pizza $11.18$12.7612.4%
      Beer $11.05$10.554.7%

      Health Care

      Item Willimantic National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $155.55$140.0611.1%
      Doctor $179.00$153.8216.4%
      Dentist $128.44$123.154.3%
      Ibuprofen $12.18$11.733.8%
      Lipitor $18.30$23.6122.5%

      Housing

      Item Willimantic National avg. Difference
      Home Price $273,753.00$326,622.0016.2%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,749.25$2,480.2529.5%
      Apartment Rent $1,317.00$1,444.008.8%

      Transportation

      Item Willimantic National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.06$3.060.1%
      Tire Balancing $73.37$65.2112.5%

      Utilities

      Item Willimantic National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $317.43$220.1244.2%
      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.
      South Windham, CT1,5221021.9%
      Rockville, CT7,3231043.6%
      Jewett City, CT3,4871054.7%
      Norwich, CT40,6611065.7%
      Baltic, CT1,3371076.9%
      Willimantic, CT19,3541021.6%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Altoona, IA19,348963.7%
      Claremore, OK19,3468911.3%
      North Valley Stream, NY19,34215050.0%
      Point Pleasant, NJ19,37313534.8%
      Wallingford Center, CT19,37411615.5%
      Willimantic, CT19,3541021.6%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; this is the most current data available.