City Comparison

Bridgeport vs Great Falls

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Bridgeport

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

Great Falls

Montana
88
Below Average
$325,000
Median Home
$1,050/mo
Median Rent
$55,800
Median Income

The Verdict

48.9%

Living in Great Falls costs 48.9% less than Bridgeport. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Bridgeport, you would need $50,382 in Great Falls.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
165
Bridgeport
82
Great Falls
Groceries
107
Bridgeport
99
Great Falls
Utilities
126
Bridgeport
90
Great Falls
Transportation
104
Bridgeport
95
Great Falls
Healthcare
114
Bridgeport
92
Great Falls

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Bridgeport has the same purchasing power as $50,382 in Great Falls.

Conversely, $75,000 in Great Falls equals $111,648 in Bridgeport.

Living in Bridgeport vs Great Falls

Housing Costs

Bridgeport's housing index of 165 is higher Great Falls's 82, translating to median home prices of $310,000 vs $325,000. The $15,000 difference in home prices means roughly $972 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,500/mo in Bridgeport compared to $1,050/mo in Great Falls, a monthly difference of $450.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 107 in Bridgeport and 99 in Great Falls. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $508/month in Bridgeport vs $470/month in Great Falls. Great Falls 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 90 in Great Falls. Monthly utility bills average approximately $504 in Bridgeport vs $360 in Great Falls. 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 92 in Great Falls. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 22-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 $55,800 in Great Falls. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $37,202 and $63,409 respectively. Great Falls 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 $1,302/month in Great Falls. In Bridgeport, median rent of $1,500/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Great Falls, median rent of $1,050/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 83 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Great Falls is 48.9% more affordable overall with an index of 88 vs 131.
A $75,000 salary in Bridgeport has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $50,382 in Great Falls, based on the cost of living difference.
Bridgeport's housing index is 165 with median homes at $310,000, while Great Falls's is 82 with median homes at $325,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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