CostIndexUSA

Harrisburg, PA vs Waterbury, CT Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordablePA
Harrisburg
98.7
overall index
$1,400/mo rent
CT
Waterbury
99.8
overall index
$1,325/mo rent

Harrisburg is slightly cheaper than Waterbury — 1.1% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Harrisburg, you would need $80,900 in Waterbury. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing7.5%
Harrisburg
96.3
Waterbury
89.1
🛒 Groceries3.4%
Harrisburg
100.7
Waterbury
97.3
🚗 Transportation+5.1%
Harrisburg
102.6
Waterbury
107.8
🏥 Healthcare+5.1%
Harrisburg
92.8
Waterbury
97.5
Utilities+36.5%
Harrisburg
108.1
Waterbury
147.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Harrisburg to see what you'd need to earn in Waterbury to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Waterbury, CT
$80,900
$900 more needed in Waterbury

Formula: salary × (99.8 ÷ 98.7) = salary × 1.0111. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Harrisburg, PA

Median Home Price
$298,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,400
Housing Index
96.3
Price-to-Rent Ratio
17.7×

Waterbury, CT

Median Home Price
$420,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,325
Housing Index
89.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
26.4×

Harrisburg has 7.5% lower housing costs compared to Waterbury.

Income & Job Market

Harrisburg, PA

Median Household Income
$76,800
Per Capita Income
$43,800
Unemployment Rate
3.6%
Population
49,192
Top Industries
GovernmentHealthcareFinanceEducationManufacturing

Waterbury, CT

Median Household Income
$81,300
Per Capita Income
$46,300
Unemployment Rate
5.3%
Population
114,403
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingFinanceEducationGovernment

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Harrisburg, PA
4.6×income-to-rent ratio

78% of income left after rent (median)

Waterbury, CT
5.1×income-to-rent ratio

80% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.