Is Manchester expensive to live in?

Manchester is on the pricier side of the 112 US cities we track. Its one-bedroom rent of $1,150 per month ranks #48 of 112 and is 7% higher than the $1,080 median.

What is the average rent in Manchester?

Average rent in Manchester, NH runs a studio around $880, a one-bedroom around $1,150, a two-bedroom around $1,593, a three-bedroom around $1,661 per month (US Census ACS).

How much do you need to earn to live in Manchester?

To keep a one-bedroom rent of $1,150 near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year. The median household income here is $77,415.

How much does it cost to live in Manchester per month?

A rough monthly baseline for one person in Manchester is about $1,430 — one-bedroom rent plus typical residential electricity and heating. It excludes food, transport, and healthcare, so a full budget is higher.

Cost of Living in Manchester, NH

Population 115,415 · New Hampshire

~$1,430/mo est.1BR $1,150Home $336,300

Photo: Andri Kyrychok / Unsplash

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The cost of living in Manchester, NH is driven mostly by housing. A one-bedroom apartment rents for around $1,150 a month — 7% higher than the $1,080 median across the 112 large US cities we track. Studios average $880 and two-bedrooms $1,593.

Median household income here is $77,415, 12% higher than the $69,423 median of the cities we track. Adding typical electricity and heating to one-bedroom rent, a rough monthly baseline for one person is about $1,430 before food and transport. New Hampshire has no state income tax and no state sales tax.

Rent1BR $1,150

Studio

$880

1 Bedroom

$1,150

2 Bedroom

$1,593

3 Bedroom

$1,661

Buying a Home$336,300

Median Home Value

$336,300

Income$77,415

Median Household Income

$77,415

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$56,530

Household income: Census ACS, city. Metro median wage: BLS OEWS, all occupations, 2025 (metro area).

GroceriesNortheast

Milk (gal)

$4.31

Bread (lb)

$1.92

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

Average prices, Northeast (BLS, 2026-07-01). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

Utilities27.3¢/kWh

Electricity

27.3¢/kWh

Natural Gas

$24.53/MCF

Residential, state-level averages (EIA, 2026-05-01). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Gas$3.86/gal

Regular Gasoline (East Coast (PADD 1))

$3.86/gal

EIA weekly retail average, week of 2026-08-17.

State Taxes (NH)No sales tax

State Sales Tax

None

State Income Tax (top rate)

None

State-level rates. Local sales taxes may add more. Income tax shown is the top marginal rate; most filers pay less.

Crime339.5 violent

Violent Crime (per 100k/yr)

339.5

Property Crime (per 100k/yr)

1,691.4

FBI Crime Data Explorer, Manchester Police Department (2024). Offenses per 100,000 residents per year. Agency reporting practices vary, so cross-city comparisons are approximate.

People & LifestyleAge 37.9 yrs

Median Age

37.9 yrs

Homeownership

49.3%

Bachelor's+ (25+)

33.5%

Avg Commute

23.8 min

Climate49.2°F

Avg Annual Temperature

49.2°F

Annual Precipitation

44.6 in

Manchester cost of living — FAQ

Is Manchester expensive to live in?: Manchester is on the pricier side of the 112 US cities we track. Its one-bedroom rent of $1,150 per month ranks #48 of 112 and is 7% higher than the $1,080 median.
What is the average rent in Manchester?: Average rent in Manchester, NH runs a studio around $880, a one-bedroom around $1,150, a two-bedroom around $1,593, a three-bedroom around $1,661 per month (US Census ACS).
How much do you need to earn to live in Manchester?: To keep a one-bedroom rent of $1,150 near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year. The median household income here is $77,415.
How much does it cost to live in Manchester per month?: A rough monthly baseline for one person in Manchester is about $1,430 — one-bedroom rent plus typical residential electricity and heating. It excludes food, transport, and healthcare, so a full budget is higher.

Compare Manchester with nearby cities

Manchester vs Boston Manchester vs Portland Manchester vs Providence Manchester vs Burlington Manchester vs Bridgeport Manchester vs New York City

Nearby cities

Boston, MA 48 mi Portland, ME 76 mi Providence, RI 81 mi Burlington, VT 135 mi Bridgeport, CT 154 mi New York City, NY 205 mi

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981-2010 (climate); EIA (gas, utilities); BLS Average Price Data (groceries) & OEWS (metro wage); transit agencies (fares); FBI Crime Data Explorer (crime); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes). Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + utilities; not a full cost of living.