Is it cheaper to live in Columbia or Manchester?

Columbia, SC is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,220 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 14% below Manchester, NH's $1,420, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year in Columbia versus $46,000 in Manchester.

Which has lower taxes, Columbia or Manchester?

Columbia 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).

Columbia vs Manchester Cost of Living 2026

Columbia

South Carolina

$1,220/mo est.

Manchester

New Hampshire

$1,420/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,220 in Columbia, SC versus $1,420 in Manchester, NH. Overall, Columbia, SC is roughly 14% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Manchester, NH, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $55,653 in Columbia, SC and $77,415 in Manchester, NH — about 28% higher in Manchester, NH. 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.

Columbia, SC

Manchester, NH

Rent

Studio

$802

$880

+10% in Manchester, NH

1 Bedroom

$1,026

$1,150

+12% in Manchester, NH

2 Bedroom

$1,164

$1,593

+37% in Manchester, NH

3 Bedroom

$1,338

$1,661

+24% in Manchester, NH

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$243,500

$336,300

+38% in Manchester, NH

Income

Median Household Income

$55,653

$77,415

+39% in Manchester, NH

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$46,430

$56,530

+22% in Manchester, NH

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

28.7 yr

37.9 yr

+9.2 yr in Manchester, NH

Homeownership

47.3%

49.3%

+2.0 pp in Manchester, NH

Bachelor's+ (25+)

46.1%

33.5%

+12.6 pp in Columbia, SC

Avg Commute

17.4 min

23.8 min

+6.4 min in Manchester, NH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

769.9

339.5

+56% in Columbia, SC

Property Crime

3,265.1

1,691.4

+48% in Columbia, SC

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

64.9°F

49.2°F

+15.7°F in Columbia, SC

Annual Precipitation

45.4 in

44.6 in

+0.8 in in Columbia, SC

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.6

27.0

+74% in Manchester, NH

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$29.07

$21.67

+25% in Columbia, 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 Columbia, 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

Columbia vs Manchester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Columbia or Manchester?: Columbia, SC is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,220 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 14% below Manchester, NH's $1,420, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Columbia than in Manchester?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year in Columbia versus $46,000 in Manchester.
Which has lower taxes, Columbia or Manchester?: Columbia 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).