City Comparison

Bridgeport vs Duluth

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Bridgeport

Connecticut
131
Expensive
$310,000
Median Home
$1,500/mo
Median Rent
$48,734
Median Income

Duluth

Minnesota
85
Very Affordable
$268,000
Median Home
$1,025/mo
Median Rent
$68,800
Median Income

The Verdict

54.1%

Duluth is 54.1% less expensive than Bridgeport overall. A household earning $75,000 in Bridgeport would need approximately $48,664 in Duluth to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
165
Bridgeport
88
Duluth
Groceries
107
Bridgeport
99
Duluth
Utilities
126
Bridgeport
94
Duluth
Transportation
104
Bridgeport
100
Duluth
Healthcare
114
Bridgeport
123
Duluth

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Bridgeport has the same purchasing power as $48,664 in Duluth.

Conversely, $75,000 in Duluth equals $115,588 in Bridgeport.

Living in Bridgeport vs Duluth

Housing Costs

Bridgeport's housing index of 165 is higher Duluth's 88, translating to median home prices of $310,000 vs $268,000. The $42,000 difference in home prices means roughly $2,736 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,500/mo in Bridgeport compared to $1,025/mo in Duluth, a monthly difference of $475.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 107 in Bridgeport and 99 in Duluth. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $508/month in Bridgeport vs $470/month in Duluth. Duluth offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $456/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 126 in Bridgeport and 94 in Duluth. Monthly utility bills average approximately $504 in Bridgeport vs $376 in Duluth. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 114 in Bridgeport and 123 in Duluth. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 9-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $48,734 in Bridgeport and $68,800 in Duluth. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $37,202 and $80,941 respectively. Duluth residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,137/month to housing in Bridgeport vs $1,605/month in Duluth. In Bridgeport, median rent of $1,500/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Duluth, median rent of $1,025/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 77 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Duluth is 54.1% more affordable overall with an index of 85 vs 131.
A $75,000 salary in Bridgeport has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $48,664 in Duluth, based on the cost of living difference.
Bridgeport's housing index is 165 with median homes at $310,000, while Duluth's is 88 with median homes at $268,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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