Living Cost Compare
Anaheim

California

$2,090/mo est.

vs
Manchester

New Hampshire

$1,430/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $2,090 in Anaheim, CA versus $1,430 in Manchester, NH. Overall, Manchester, NH is roughly 32% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Anaheim, CA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $90,583 in Anaheim, CA and $77,415 in Manchester, NH — about 15% higher in Anaheim, CA. California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax; New Hampshire has no state income tax and no state sales tax.

Anaheim, CA
Manchester, NH

Rent

Studio
$1,929
$880
+54% in Anaheim, CA
1 Bedroom
$1,764
$1,150
+35% in Anaheim, CA
2 Bedroom
$2,171
$1,593
+27% in Anaheim, CA
3 Bedroom
$2,653
$1,661
+37% in Anaheim, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$771,700
$336,300
+56% in Anaheim, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$90,583
$77,415
+15% in Anaheim, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$55,850
$56,530
+1% in Manchester, NH

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.9 yr
37.9 yr
+2.0 yr in Manchester, NH
Homeownership
45.9%
49.3%
+3.4 pp in Manchester, NH
Bachelor's+ (25+)
28.8%
33.5%
+4.7 pp in Manchester, NH
Avg Commute
28.2 min
23.8 min
+4.4 min in Anaheim, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
597.7
339.5
+43% in Anaheim, CA
Property Crime
2,234.9
1,691.4
+24% in Anaheim, CA

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
67.1°F
49.2°F
+17.9°F in Anaheim, CA
Annual Precipitation
13.4 in
44.6 in
+31.1 in in Manchester, NH

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.40/gal
$3.86/gal
+28% in Anaheim, CA

Area: Los Angeles vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00
—

Adult base one-way fare — OCTA vs — (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
33.3
27.3
+18% in Anaheim, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.72
$24.53
+18% in Manchester, NH

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.31
+10% in Anaheim, CA
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$1.92
+6% in Anaheim, CA
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.90
+6% in Anaheim, CA
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$2.19
+9% in Manchester, NH
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.69
about equal

Average prices — West vs Northeast (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CA / NH)
7.25%
None
+7.3 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
13.30%
None
+13.3 pp in CA

Anaheim vs Manchester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Anaheim or Manchester?
Manchester, NH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,430 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 32% below Anaheim, CA's $2,090, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Anaheim than in Manchester?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $71,000 a year in Anaheim versus $46,000 in Manchester.
Which has lower taxes, Anaheim or Manchester?
Anaheim is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax); Manchester under New Hampshire's (no state income tax and no state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).