City profile
Hartford, CT cost of living
CT · BLS RPP 104.9
Overall RPP
104.9
US = 100
Housing RPP
108.2
Housing component
Goods RPP
101.2
Goods component
2-BR Rent (HUD)
$1,654/mo
FY2024 FMR
Where Hartford, CT sits in the verified metro set
RPP rank
#19 of 67
+4.9 vs U.S. average
Vs median metro
+6.5
median RPP 98.4
2-BR rent rank
#28 of 67
+48/mo vs median verified metro
RPP ranks use only verified ReloMath metro records. Sources: BEA Regional Price Parities by MSA, 2022 (Table 4); HUD FY2024 Fair Market Rents (2-BR); reviewed June 2026. These are official published averages, not neighborhood-level prices.
Who’s moving in and out of Hartford, CT
IRS tax-return migration · 2021-2022Cost of living is only half the relocation question. The other half is which way people are actually voting with their feet, straight from IRS tax-return migration for the Hartford, CT metro.
Moved in
38,725
people · 24,269 households
Moved out
41,215
people · 26,862 households
Net
−2,490
net loss of residents
Net migration rank
#36 of 65
among IRS-covered ReloMath metros
Vs median net flow
-2,386
median -104 people
Largest flow share
11% in / 8% out
top named county shares
Where new residents came from
- South Central Connecticut Plannin, CT 4,344
- Naugatuck Valley Planning Region, CT 4,157
- Hampden County, MA 2,213
- Southeastern Connecticut Planning, CT 2,092
- Northwest Hills Planning Region, CT 917
Where residents moved to
- Naugatuck Valley Planning Region, CT 3,134
- South Central Connecticut Plannin, CT 2,945
- Southeastern Connecticut Planning, CT 2,291
- Hampden County, MA 1,237
- Northwest Hills Planning Region, CT 820
Counts are IRS tax filers (returns ≈ households, individuals ≈ exemptions) who changed address between 2021-2022. Flows too small for IRS to disclose are grouped and excluded from the named lists. Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration data ↗, mapped to metros via the U.S. Census CBSA delineation.
What salary do you need in Hartford, CT?
Equivalent salary to maintain the same purchasing power as in a US-average city (RPP 100).
| In US-average city | You need in Hartford, CT | Formula |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $52,450 | $50,000 x (104.9/100) |
| $75,000 | $78,675 | $75,000 x (104.9/100) |
| $100,000 | $104,900 | $100,000 x (104.9/100) |
| $125,000 | $131,125 | $125,000 x (104.9/100) |
| $150,000 | $157,350 | $150,000 x (104.9/100) |
| $200,000 | $209,800 | $200,000 x (104.9/100) |
This tool provides estimates only. Equivalent-salary figures are derived from BLS Regional Price Parities (RPP) and HUD Fair Market Rents — they are averages, not guarantees. Actual cost of living varies by neighborhood, lifestyle, and individual circumstances. Not financial advice.
State income tax note
Connecticut income tax 3%-6.99%.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the cost of living in Hartford, CT?
- Hartford, CT has a BLS Regional Price Parity of 104.9 (US average = 100). It is 4.9% more expensive than the national average.
- What salary do I need to live in Hartford, CT?
- If you earn $100,000 in a US-average city (RPP 100), you would need approximately $104,900 in Hartford, CT to maintain the same purchasing power.
- What is the average rent in Hartford, CT?
- The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Hartford, CT is approximately $1,654 per month as of FY2024.
- Are people moving to or away from Hartford, CT?
- Based on IRS tax-return migration data for 2021-2022, about 38,725 people moved into the Hartford, CT metro and 41,215 moved out — a net loss of roughly 2,490 residents. The largest single source of new residents was South Central Connecticut Plannin, CT.
Curated nearby & similar cities
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