CostIndexUSA

Hartford, CT vs Rochester, MN Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

CT
Hartford
102.7
overall index
$1,875/mo rent
More AffordableMN
Rochester
90.8
overall index
$1,625/mo rent

Rochester is moderately cheaper than Hartford — 11.6% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Hartford, you would need $70,700 in Rochester. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing28.7%
Hartford
110.2
Rochester
78.6
🛒 Groceries2.0%
Hartford
97.3
Rochester
95.4
🚗 Transportation10.2%
Hartford
107.8
Rochester
96.8
🏥 Healthcare10.2%
Hartford
97.5
Rochester
87.6
Utilities39.7%
Hartford
144.9
Rochester
87.4

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Rochester, MN
$70,700
$9,300 less needed in Rochester

Formula: salary × (90.8 ÷ 102.7) = salary × 0.8841. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Hartford, CT

Median Home Price
$377,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,875
Housing Index
110.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
16.8×

Rochester, MN

Median Home Price
$324,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,625
Housing Index
78.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
16.6×

Hartford has 28.7% lower housing costs compared to Rochester.

Income & Job Market

Hartford, CT

Median Household Income
$92,200
Per Capita Income
$52,600
Unemployment Rate
4.3%
Population
121,054
Top Industries
FinanceInsuranceHealthcareGovernmentEducation

Rochester, MN

Median Household Income
$85,200
Per Capita Income
$48,600
Unemployment Rate
2.8%
Population
121,395
Top Industries
HealthcareTechnologyEducationManufacturingFinance

Affordability at a Glance

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

Hartford, CT
4.1×income-to-rent ratio

76% of income left after rent (median)

Rochester, MN
4.4×income-to-rent ratio

77% 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.