Living Cost Compare
Atlanta

Georgia

$1,780/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 $1,780 in Atlanta, GA versus $1,430 in Manchester, NH. Overall, Manchester, NH is roughly 20% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Atlanta, GA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $81,938 in Atlanta, GA and $77,415 in Manchester, NH — about 6% higher in Atlanta, GA. Georgia has a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax; New Hampshire has no state income tax and no state sales tax.

Atlanta, GA
Manchester, NH

Rent

Studio
$1,669
$880
+47% in Atlanta, GA
1 Bedroom
$1,576
$1,150
+27% in Atlanta, GA
2 Bedroom
$1,701
$1,593
+6% in Atlanta, GA
3 Bedroom
$1,557
$1,661
+7% in Manchester, NH

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$420,600
$336,300
+20% in Atlanta, GA

Income

Median Household Income
$81,938
$77,415
+6% in Atlanta, GA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,170
$56,530
+10% in Manchester, NH

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.0 yr
37.9 yr
+3.9 yr in Manchester, NH
Homeownership
46.3%
49.3%
+3.0 pp in Manchester, NH
Bachelor's+ (25+)
58.4%
33.5%
+24.9 pp in Atlanta, GA
Avg Commute
26.8 min
23.8 min
+3.0 min in Atlanta, GA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
603.7
339.5
+44% in Atlanta, GA
Property Crime
3,548.3
1,691.4
+52% in Atlanta, GA

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
62.6°F
49.2°F
+13.4°F in Atlanta, GA
Annual Precipitation
49.7 in
44.6 in
+5.1 in in Atlanta, GA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.86/gal
about equal

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.50
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.8
27.3
+73% in Manchester, NH
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$33.28
$24.53
+26% in Atlanta, GA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Manchester, NH
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.92
+10% in Manchester, NH
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.19
+1% in Atlanta, GA
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.90
+7% in Manchester, NH
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.19
+15% in Manchester, NH
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.69
+12% in Manchester, NH

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (GA / NH)
4%
None
+4.0 pp in GA
Income Tax (top rate)
5.19%
None
+5.2 pp in GA

Atlanta vs Manchester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Atlanta or Manchester?
Manchester, NH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,430 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 20% below Atlanta, GA's $1,780, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Atlanta than in Manchester?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $63,000 a year in Atlanta versus $46,000 in Manchester.
Which has lower taxes, Atlanta or Manchester?
Atlanta is taxed under Georgia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% 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).