Is it cheaper to live in Boise or Manchester?

Boise, ID is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,260 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 12% below Manchester, NH's $1,430, mainly because of electricity costs.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Boise than in Manchester?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $45,000 a year in Boise versus $46,000 in Manchester.

Which has lower taxes, Boise or Manchester?

Boise is taxed under Idaho's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax); Manchester under New Hampshire's (no state income tax and no state sales tax).

Boise vs Manchester Cost of Living 2026

Boise

Idaho

$1,260/mo est.

Manchester

New Hampshire

$1,430/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,260 in Boise, ID versus $1,430 in Manchester, NH. Overall, Boise, ID is roughly 12% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Manchester, NH, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $81,308 in Boise, ID and $77,415 in Manchester, NH — about 5% higher in Boise, ID. Idaho has a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax; New Hampshire has no state income tax and no state sales tax.

Boise, ID

Manchester, NH

Rent

Studio

$1,021

$880

+14% in Boise, ID

1 Bedroom

$1,133

$1,150

+2% in Manchester, NH

2 Bedroom

$1,342

$1,593

+19% in Manchester, NH

3 Bedroom

$1,749

$1,661

+5% in Boise, ID

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$456,000

$336,300

+26% in Boise, ID

Income

Median Household Income

$81,308

$77,415

+5% in Boise, ID

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,100

$56,530

+15% in Manchester, NH

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.2 yr

37.9 yr

+0.3 yr in Boise, ID

Homeownership

63.0%

49.3%

+13.7 pp in Boise, ID

Bachelor's+ (25+)

46.6%

33.5%

+13.1 pp in Boise, ID

Avg Commute

19.1 min

23.8 min

+4.7 min in Manchester, NH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

301

339.5

+13% in Manchester, NH

Property Crime

1,135.1

1,691.4

+49% in Manchester, NH

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

52.5°F

49.2°F

+3.3°F in Boise, ID

Annual Precipitation

11.7 in

44.6 in

+32.8 in in Manchester, NH

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.29/gal

$3.86/gal

+10% in Boise, ID

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

12.3

27.3

+121% in Manchester, NH

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$10.82

$24.53

+127% in Manchester, NH

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

$4.31

+10% in Boise, ID

Bread (lb)

$2.04

$1.92

+6% in Boise, ID

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.90

+6% in Boise, ID

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 (ID / NH)

None

+6.0 pp in ID

Income Tax (top rate)

5.30%

None

+5.3 pp in ID

Boise vs Manchester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Boise or Manchester?: Boise, ID is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,260 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 12% below Manchester, NH's $1,430, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Boise than in Manchester?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $45,000 a year in Boise versus $46,000 in Manchester.
Which has lower taxes, Boise or Manchester?: Boise is taxed under Idaho's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% 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).