A+
10%
Overall NAT. AVG.
2%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
47%
Housing NAT. AVG.
Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; 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 Berlin New Hampshire National
Cost of living90113100
Goods & Services102111100
Groceries101100100
Health care115108100
Housing53125100
Transportation103104100
Utilities118115100
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An Overview of Cost of Living in Berlin, NH

Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Berlin? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Berlin stands at 90, making it 10% lower 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.

It's not uncommon for housing expenses to eat up a substantial portion of your income, oten exceeding 30%. The good news is that Berlin stands out by reporting housing costs that are 46.6% lower than the national average. This signifies that both homeownership and rental expenses in this region are considerably more affordable compared to the rest of the country. This favorable housing situation allows residents to allocate a more manageable portion of their income to housing, resulting in greater financial flexibility.

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

Nobody knows their city better than the people who actually live there. So, we asked 6 local residents how they would rate the cost of living in Berlin and this is how they responded. 17% of people said that the cost of living was affordable, with prices decreasing, while 83% of people said that the cost of living was very expensive and prices continue to rise.

Is Berlin Affordable?

Is Berlin affordable? This is a pivotal question, especially when mulling over a move, as affordability carries substantial weight in your decision-making process. Factors such as the cost of living index (discussed earlier), housing expenses and income levels all contribute to a location's affordability. For instance, in Berlin, the median home price is 53.8% lower than the national average and monthly rent prices are 29.6% lower than the typical rates. Additionally, the median income levels play a role in affordability, with Berlin boasting a median household income of $57,288, 29.6% lower than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Berlin?

Healthcare: The costs associated with healthcare and insurance premiums can exhibit notable disparities based on the city or state of residence. Access to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for medical appointments, dental care charges, prescription medication costs and specialized medical care expenses all contribute to variations in the cost of living. In Berlin, healthcare costs are 15.1% higher than the national average.

Utilities: Similar to the prices of any goods or services, utility expenses can fluctuate widely, contingent on variables such as climate, available energy sources, geographical location and state regulations. Costs associated with electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can differ in magnitude, depending on the specific city or state. In Berlin, the utilities index registers at 18.4% higher than the national average.

Housing: When everyone's vying for homes in popular areas, it drives up property prices and rents, making the overall cost of living surge. On the flip side, in less sought-after locales, where housing demand is low, prices tend to dip, resulting in a more economical cost of living. In Berlin, the housing index comes in at 46.6% lower than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Berlin 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.

Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Berlin is 21% lower than the New Hampshire average
  • The cost of living in Berlin is 10% lower than the national average
  • Berlin housing is 47% lower than the national average
  • New Hampshire general sales tax is 100% lower than the national average
  • New Hampshire state income tax is 54% higher than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Berlin

See all the best places to live around Berlin

Compare Berlin, NH Cost of Living

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      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$92,646$7,721$2,162$2,780
      Renters$34,869$2,906$814$1,046
      The percentage of monthly income spent on housing related expenses can help predict the affordability of housing in Berlin, 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 Berlin, homeowners have a median income of $92,646. Using that number, a maximum of $2,162 per month should be allocated to housing expenses. For those who are renting instead of owning, the median income is $34,869, which means there is a maximum of $814 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 4% 4%

      Goods & Services

      Item Berlin National avg. Difference
      Haircut $29.75$27.627.7%
      Beauty Salon $56.25$51.1110.1%
      Toothpaste $4.08$4.090.3%
      Shampoo $1.53$1.540.8%
      Movie $14.18$12.8810.1%
      Yoga $18.89$19.663.9%

      Groceries

      Item Berlin National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $7.65$7.700.7%
      Fried Chicken $1.53$1.668.0%
      Milk $4.85$4.732.5%
      Potatoes $5.08$5.263.4%
      Pizza $11.76$12.767.9%
      Beer $10.55$10.550.0%

      Health Care

      Item Berlin National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $198.86$140.0642.0%
      Doctor $211.93$153.8237.8%
      Dentist $134.93$123.159.6%
      Ibuprofen $12.06$11.732.8%
      Lipitor $21.32$23.619.7%

      Housing

      Item Berlin National avg. Difference
      Home Price $150,811.00$326,622.0053.8%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,868.13$2,480.2515.6%
      Apartment Rent $1,016.00$1,444.0029.6%

      Transportation

      Item Berlin National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.06$3.060.2%
      Tire Balancing $72.00$65.2110.4%

      Utilities

      Item Berlin National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $289.55$220.1231.5%
      Phone $190.21$195.712.8%
      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.
      Gorham, NH2,017945.6%
      Berlin, NH10,3369010.4%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Highland, IL10,335909.6%
      Watervliet, NY10,3331000.0%
      Citrus, CA10,33915453.5%
      Flat Rock, MI10,332963.8%
      Marina del Rey, CA10,341215114.8%
      Berlin, NH10,3369010.4%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; this is the most current data available.