City Comparison

Montpelier vs New Haven

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Montpelier

Vermont
117
Above Average
$375,000
Median Home
$1,400/mo
Median Rent
$82,600
Median Income

New Haven

Connecticut
118
Above Average
$250,000
Median Home
$1,400/mo
Median Rent
$42,158
Median Income

The Verdict

0.8%

The cost gap between these cities is 0.8%, with Montpelier being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Montpelier has equivalent purchasing power to $75,641 in New Haven.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
131
Montpelier
137
New Haven
Groceries
104
Montpelier
106
New Haven
Utilities
123
Montpelier
124
New Haven
Transportation
107
Montpelier
102
New Haven
Healthcare
107
Montpelier
114
New Haven

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Montpelier has the same purchasing power as $75,641 in New Haven.

Conversely, $75,000 in New Haven equals $74,364 in Montpelier.

Living in Montpelier vs New Haven

Housing Costs

Montpelier's housing index of 131 is lower New Haven's 137, translating to median home prices of $375,000 vs $250,000. The $125,000 difference in home prices means roughly $8,124 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,400/mo in Montpelier compared to $1,400/mo in New Haven, a monthly difference of $0.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 104 in Montpelier and 106 in New Haven. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $494/month in Montpelier vs $504/month in New Haven. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 123 in Montpelier and 124 in New Haven. Monthly utility bills average approximately $492 in Montpelier vs $496 in New Haven. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 107 in Montpelier and 114 in New Haven. 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 $82,600 in Montpelier and $42,158 in New Haven. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $70,598 and $35,727 respectively. Montpelier residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,927/month to housing in Montpelier vs $984/month in New Haven. In Montpelier, median rent of $1,400/mo fits within this budget. In New Haven, median rent of $1,400/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Healthcare, where the gap is 7 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Montpelier is 0.8% more affordable overall with an index of 117 vs 118.
A $75,000 salary in Montpelier has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $75,641 in New Haven, based on the cost of living difference.
Montpelier's housing index is 131 with median homes at $375,000, while New Haven's is 137 with median homes at $250,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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