D
20%
Overall NAT. AVG.
20%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
28%
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 Manchester New Hampshire National
Cost of living120118100
Goods & Services120120100
Groceries102102100
Health care113113100
Housing128123100
Transportation110110100
Utilities131131100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Manchester, NH

Knowing the cost of living in Manchester allows individuals to create a realistic budget. This helps them understand how their income will cover expenses and whether they need to make financial adjustments. The cost of living in any region can fluctuate due to various factors. To assess the cost of living consistently across different areas, a national average of 100 serves as the basis for the cost of living index. The cost of living in Manchester stands at 120, marking it 20% higher than the national average.

If you're in pursuit of an economical living environment, Manchester may not fit the bill, as it ranks among the most expensive places to reside in the United States. Just a minority of regions exhibit a cost of living that is more than 20% higher than the national average, and, unfortunately, Manchester falls within this bracket.

When it comes to the cost of living in Manchester, housing costs are a real heavyweight, often hogging a significant chunk of your earnings. Sadly, in this area, housing expenses for both buying and renting were 28.2% more expensive compared to your average city. That means you'll be shelling out more for homes, rents, mortgage rates and insurance.

Recurring goods and services expenses like haircuts, toothpaste, gym memberships and movie nights are a big part of your spending and make up 33% of the cost of living index. In Manchester, these items will cost you 20.2% more than what most folks pay, making it a bit more expensive to live here.

What Do Locals Say About the Cost of Living in Manchester?

The most insightful perspective on a city comes from its residents. We recently surveyed 9 locals to gauge their perception of the cost of living in Manchester. The feedback revealed that 0% of respondents found the cost of living to be reasonable, with prices on the decline, while 100% regarded it as notably expensive with prices that continue to rise.

Is Manchester Affordable?

Wondering if Manchester is affordable? It's a question that often comes up when you're thinking about a new city since affordability can really shape your decisions. The cost of living index (covered earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a part in the affordability equation. In Manchester, for example, the median home price is 30.8% higher than what folks pay nationally, and monthly rent is 22.2% higher than the usual rates. Plus, income levels matter too, with Manchester boasting a median household income of $62,087, which is 12.2% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Manchester?

Subsidies: Certain cities or states may implement government subsidies or assistance programs with the goal of alleviating the cost of living pressures on their residents. These programs encompass a broad spectrum of support mechanisms, including 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 offering fewer subsidies may experience a rise in their cost of living.

Housing: A sought-after location with high housing demand often leads to increased property values and rental rates, which can significantly inflate the overall cost of living. Conversely, areas with low housing demand, particularly in less desirable locales, tend to experience the opposite effect, causing prices to drop and contributing to a more affordable cost of living. In Manchester, the housing index stands at 28.2% higher than the national average.

Utilities: Similar to the prices of any other goods or services, utility expenditures can exhibit substantial variability, influenced by factors such as climate, energy sources accessibility, geographical location and state regulations. Costs related to electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can fluctuate, whether higher or lower, contingent on the city or state. In Manchester, the utilities index is 31% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Manchester cost of living data displayed above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index to provide a useful and reasonably accurate measure of living cost differences in urban areas. The index takes into account data from 300 independent researches, covering more than 60 goods and services across 6 different categories, to create an overall index for each area, with 100 being the average. The C2ER index does not include sales or income tax rates in their data, however AreaVibes does include both income and sales tax rates in the overall cost of living score for each area.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Manchester is 1% higher than the New Hampshire average
  • The cost of living in Manchester is 20% higher than the national average
  • Manchester housing is 28% higher than the national average
  • New Hampshire general sales tax is 100% lower than the national average
  • New Hampshire state income tax is 122% higher than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Manchester

See all the best places to live around Manchester

Compare Manchester, NH 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$87,877$7,323$2,050$2,637
      Renters$45,348$3,779$1,058$1,361
      The percentage of monthly income spent on housing related expenses can help predict the affordability of housing in Manchester, NH, as well as what the overall cost of living might be. Generally, a good rule to follow is that the debt-to-income (DTI) level you want to maintain is 28 percent or less of your income on your rent or mortgage payments and not more than 36 percent of income on all expenses and debts. In Manchester, homeowners have a median income of $87,877. Using that number, a maximum of $2,050 per month should be allocated to housing expenses. For those who are renting instead of owning, the median income is $45,348, which means there is a maximum of $1,058 to be spent on the costs of renting a home or apartment.

      New Hampshire Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      New Hampshire 0% 0%

      New Hampshire Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      New Hampshire 5% 5%

      Goods & Services

      Item Manchester National avg. Difference
      Haircut $26.58$24.269.6%
      Beauty Salon $67.97$45.5649.2%
      Toothpaste $3.73$3.700.8%
      Shampoo $1.25$1.282.1%
      Movie $13.07$12.137.7%
      Bowling $25.44$18.0041.4%

      Groceries

      Item Manchester National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.47$5.846.3%
      Fried Chicken $1.44$1.578.5%
      Milk $4.75$4.671.6%
      Potatoes $5.01$4.931.5%
      Pizza $11.66$12.093.6%
      Beer $9.82$10.415.7%

      Health Care

      Item Manchester National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $115.00$125.688.5%
      Doctor $164.00$135.7820.8%
      Dentist $136.17$113.2920.2%
      Ibuprofen $11.01$10.653.4%
      Lipitor $483.35$468.603.1%

      Housing

      Item Manchester National avg. Difference
      Home Price $241,600.00$184,700.0030.8%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,281.44$2,346.692.8%
      Apartment Rent $1,160.00$949.0022.2%

      Transportation

      Item Manchester National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.33$3.463.9%
      Tire Balancing $86.00$59.9243.5%

      Utilities

      Item Manchester National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $294.40$193.9951.8%
      Phone $186.72$192.252.9%
      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.
      Suncook, NH4,97511312.6%
      Pinardville, NH4,76411515.4%
      East Merrimack, NH4,78611717.1%
      Raymond, NH3,80711818.3%
      Goffstown, NH2,84811918.7%
      Manchester, NH112,44112020.0%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      High Point, NC112,434936.8%
      Peoria, IL112,6448911.3%
      Clovis, CA112,66312828.2%
      Delta, BC112,691n/a 
      Elgin, IL112,0621055.3%
      Manchester, NH112,44112020.0%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.