F
26%
Overall NAT. AVG.
13%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
58%
Housing NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Bethel Connecticut National
Cost of living126118100
Goods & Services113109100
Groceries105102100
Health care110109100
Housing158137100
Transportation102100100
Utilities131130100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Bethel, CT

Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Bethel? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Bethel stands at 126, making it 26% higher than the national average. The cost of living directly affects the affordability of one's desired lifestyle. Knowing the cost of housing, transportation, groceries and other essentials in the new area allows people to gauge whether they can maintain their preferred standard of living.

If you value affordability in your search for a new place to live, Bethel may not be the most suitable option, as it stands out as one of the priciest areas in the entire United States. Only a small fraction of regions have a cost of living that is more than 20% higher than the national average, and regrettably, Bethel falls into this category, which may not align with your desire for an affordable place to call home.

Housing costs make up a big chunk of the cost of living in Bethel, and they usually eat into a large part of your take-home pay. Unfortunately, in this area, both buying a home and renting one costs 57.7% more than the average city. This includes stuff like home prices, rent, mortgage rates, and insurance.

Recurring essentials like haircuts, toothpaste, and entertainment, from movies to gym sessions, can really add up in your budget and make up 33% of the cost of living index. In Bethel, you you will have to spend 12.9% more than average when compared to the typical prices for these items, making it a more expensive place to live.

Is Bethel Affordable?

Is Bethel an affordable place to live? That's a valid question to ask when you're thinking about moving to a new city. After all, how much it costs to live somewhere can be a huge factor in your decision. Affordability can be broken down into 3 common categories. The cost of living index (we talked about it earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a big role in figuring out if a place is affordable. For instance, in Bethel, the median home price is 67.5% higher than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 34.9% higher than the usual rates. Income levels in Bethel come in at $64,800, which is 17.1% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Bethel?

Groceries: The costs associated with groceries have witnessed substantial increases over the past 2-3 years. In select markets, food prices have escalated by more than 20% during this timeframe, whereas others have seen more restrained upticks. The variances in food expenses can exert a considerable influence on the overall cost of living in a given locale. In Bethel, the groceries index is 5.4% higher than the national average.

Urbanization: Larger, urban areas boasting abundant amenities and robust employment prospects often exhibit a heightened cost of living, driven by the increased demand for services and residential relocation. Consequently, this leads to elevated home prices and higher rental rates. In contrast, sparsely populated rural locales or regions marked by diminished demand typically offer a more limited range of amenities and experience slower job market expansion. This translates into a more affordable cost of living.

Subsidies: Certain regions may provide government subsidies or assistance initiatives designed to alleviate the cost of living burden on their residents. These programs encompass a wide range of support mechanisms, such as Medicare, Medicaid, housing subsidies, low-income home energy assistance programs, school lunch programs, supplemental nutrition assistance programs, student loans, electric vehicle tax credits, affordable care act subsidies and farming subsidies. Areas with fewer subsidy offerings might experience an elevation in their cost of living.

Where is the Data From?

The cost of living in Bethel, presented above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index, offering a practical method for assessing living cost disparities in urban areas. Published quarterly, this index compiles data from more than 300 independent researchers, encompassing over 60 goods and services in 6 categories. The weightings assigned to cost variances are informed by government survey data tracking the expenditure patterns of professional and executive households. It should be noted that the C2ER index does not include data on sales or income tax rates, however, AreaVibes incorporates tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each area.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Bethel is 7% higher than the Connecticut average
  • The cost of living in Bethel is 26% higher than the national average
  • Bethel housing is 58% higher than the national average
  • Connecticut general sales tax is 24% higher than the national average
  • Connecticut state income tax is 16% higher than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Bethel

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Compare Bethel, CT Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

      This is how much you would need to earn in
      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$88,125$7,344$2,056$2,644
      Renters$42,808$3,567$999$1,284
      The percent of monthly income spent on housing can be a good indicator of the affordability of housing in Bethel, CT, as well as the overall cost of living. As a general rule of thumb, the debt-to-income ratio (DTI) for homeowners or renters should be not more than 28 percent of gross income to be spent on housing related costs and not more than 36 percent of income on all expenses, including debts. The median income for Bethel homeowners, is $88,125. This would allow for a maximum of $2,056 per month to be spent on housing costs. For renters, the median monthly income is $42,808 which would result in a maximum of $999 to be spent on rental costs.

      Connecticut Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      Connecticut 6.35% 6.35%

      Connecticut Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      Connecticut 3% 6.99%

      Goods & Services

      Item Bethel National avg. Difference
      Haircut $32.33$24.2633.3%
      Beauty Salon $48.56$45.566.6%
      Toothpaste $3.66$3.701.1%
      Shampoo $1.50$1.2817.4%
      Movie $13.76$12.1313.4%
      Bowling $19.63$18.009.0%

      Groceries

      Item Bethel National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $6.34$5.848.6%
      Fried Chicken $1.61$1.572.4%
      Milk $4.73$4.671.2%
      Potatoes $5.03$4.931.9%
      Pizza $10.07$12.0916.7%
      Beer $10.62$10.412.0%

      Health Care

      Item Bethel National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $140.10$125.6811.5%
      Doctor $143.23$135.785.5%
      Dentist $123.00$113.298.6%
      Ibuprofen $11.00$10.653.3%
      Lipitor $401.34$468.6014.4%

      Housing

      Item Bethel National avg. Difference
      Home Price $309,300.00$184,700.0067.5%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,857.27$2,346.6920.9%
      Apartment Rent $1,280.00$949.0034.9%

      Transportation

      Item Bethel National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.33$3.463.7%
      Tire Balancing $57.68$59.923.7%

      Utilities

      Item Bethel National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $281.67$193.9945.2%
      Phone $185.16$192.253.7%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Cannondale, CT44011212.4%
      Watchtower, NY2,09211212.4%
      Copake Hamlet, NY1611066.1%
      Bridgeport, CT145,0141098.9%
      Heritage Village, CT4,46511010.1%
      Bethel, CT10,83912626.0%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Elliot Lake, ON10,836n/a 
      Farmersville, CA10,8421088.3%
      Asbury Lake, FL10,8421054.9%
      Raceland, LA10,8358613.6%
      Fairview, CA10,83418584.7%
      Bethel, CT10,83912626.0%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.