City Comparison

Bridgeport vs Springfield

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Bridgeport

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

Springfield

Missouri
84
Very Affordable
$225,000
Median Home
$950/mo
Median Rent
$46,000
Median Income

The Verdict

56.0%

The cost gap between these cities is 56.0%, with Springfield being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Bridgeport has equivalent purchasing power to $48,092 in Springfield.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
165
Bridgeport
67
Springfield
Groceries
107
Bridgeport
94
Springfield
Utilities
126
Bridgeport
79
Springfield
Transportation
104
Bridgeport
90
Springfield
Healthcare
114
Bridgeport
116
Springfield

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Bridgeport has the same purchasing power as $48,092 in Springfield.

Conversely, $75,000 in Springfield equals $116,964 in Bridgeport.

Living in Bridgeport vs Springfield

Housing Costs

Bridgeport's housing index of 165 is higher Springfield's 67, translating to median home prices of $310,000 vs $225,000. The $85,000 difference in home prices means roughly $5,520 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,500/mo in Bridgeport compared to $950/mo in Springfield, a monthly difference of $550.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 107 in Bridgeport and 94 in Springfield. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $508/month in Bridgeport vs $447/month in Springfield. Springfield offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $732/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 126 in Bridgeport and 79 in Springfield. Monthly utility bills average approximately $504 in Bridgeport vs $316 in Springfield. 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 116 in Springfield. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $48,734 in Bridgeport and $46,000 in Springfield. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $37,202 and $54,762 respectively. Springfield 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 $1,073/month in Springfield. In Bridgeport, median rent of $1,500/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Springfield, median rent of $950/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 98 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Springfield is 56.0% more affordable overall with an index of 84 vs 131.
A $75,000 salary in Bridgeport has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $48,092 in Springfield, based on the cost of living difference.
Bridgeport's housing index is 165 with median homes at $310,000, while Springfield's is 67 with median homes at $225,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

Moving PlannersFinance BooksBudget Planners

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases