Is it cheaper to live in Charleston or Manchester?

Manchester, NH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,430 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 12% below Charleston, SC's $1,620, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $57,000 a year in Charleston versus $46,000 in Manchester.

Which has lower taxes, Charleston or Manchester?

Charleston is taxed under South Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax); Manchester under New Hampshire's (no state income tax and no state sales tax).

Charleston vs Manchester Cost of Living 2026

Charleston

South Carolina

$1,620/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 $1,620 in Charleston, SC versus $1,430 in Manchester, NH. Overall, Manchester, NH is roughly 12% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Charleston, SC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $90,038 in Charleston, SC and $77,415 in Manchester, NH — about 14% higher in Charleston, SC. South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax; New Hampshire has no state income tax and no state sales tax.

Charleston, SC

Manchester, NH

Rent

Studio

$1,579

$880

+44% in Charleston, SC

1 Bedroom

$1,430

$1,150

+20% in Charleston, SC

2 Bedroom

$1,684

$1,593

+5% in Charleston, SC

3 Bedroom

$2,076

$1,661

+20% in Charleston, SC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$469,100

$336,300

+28% in Charleston, SC

Income

Median Household Income

$90,038

$77,415

+14% in Charleston, SC

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,150

$56,530

+15% in Manchester, NH

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.1 yr

37.9 yr

+1.8 yr in Manchester, NH

Homeownership

55.6%

49.3%

+6.3 pp in Charleston, SC

Bachelor's+ (25+)

57.7%

33.5%

+24.2 pp in Charleston, SC

Avg Commute

23.8 min

about equal

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

358.8

339.5

+5% in Charleston, SC

Property Crime

2,035.1

1,691.4

+17% in Charleston, SC

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

66.7°F

49.2°F

+17.5°F in Charleston, SC

Annual Precipitation

44.4 in

44.6 in

+0.2 in in Manchester, NH

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.86/gal

about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.2

27.3

+69% in Manchester, NH

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$27.35

$24.53

+10% in Charleston, SC

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 Charleston, SC

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 (SC / NH)

None

+6.0 pp in SC

Income Tax (top rate)

6.00%

None

+6.0 pp in SC

Charleston vs Manchester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Charleston or Manchester?: Manchester, NH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,430 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 12% below Charleston, SC's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Charleston than in Manchester?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $57,000 a year in Charleston versus $46,000 in Manchester.
Which has lower taxes, Charleston or Manchester?: Charleston is taxed under South Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% 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).