Is it cheaper to live in Columbus or Manchester?

Columbus, OH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,270 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 11% below Manchester, NH's $1,430, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Columbus versus $46,000 in Manchester.

Which has lower taxes, Columbus or Manchester?

Columbus is taxed under Ohio's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax); Manchester under New Hampshire's (no state income tax and no state sales tax).

Columbus vs Manchester Cost of Living 2026

Columbus

Ohio

$1,270/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 $1,270 in Columbus, OH versus $1,430 in Manchester, NH. Overall, Columbus, OH is roughly 11% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Manchester, NH, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $65,327 in Columbus, OH and $77,415 in Manchester, NH — about 16% higher in Manchester, NH. Ohio has a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax; New Hampshire has no state income tax and no state sales tax.

Columbus, OH

Manchester, NH

Rent

Studio

$1,014

$880

+13% in Columbus, OH

1 Bedroom

$1,059

$1,150

+9% in Manchester, NH

2 Bedroom

$1,276

$1,593

+25% in Manchester, NH

3 Bedroom

$1,369

$1,661

+21% in Manchester, NH

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$234,500

$336,300

+43% in Manchester, NH

Income

Median Household Income

$65,327

$77,415

+19% in Manchester, NH

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,340

$56,530

+10% in Manchester, NH

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

33.0 yr

37.9 yr

+4.9 yr in Manchester, NH

Homeownership

44.3%

49.3%

+5.0 pp in Manchester, NH

Bachelor's+ (25+)

38.2%

33.5%

+4.7 pp in Columbus, OH

Avg Commute

21.8 min

23.8 min

+2.0 min in Manchester, NH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

485.2

339.5

+30% in Columbus, OH

Property Crime

3,093.9

1,691.4

+45% in Columbus, OH

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

52.7°F

49.2°F

+3.5°F in Columbus, OH

Annual Precipitation

40.1 in

44.6 in

+4.5 in in Manchester, NH

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.18/gal

$3.86/gal

+8% in Columbus, OH

Area: Ohio vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.00

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

19.5

27.3

+40% in Manchester, NH

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$22.83

$24.53

+7% in Manchester, NH

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$1.92

+16% in Manchester, NH

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Columbus, OH

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$6.90

+2% in Manchester, NH

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.19

+4% in Manchester, NH

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.69

+12% in Manchester, NH

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (OH / NH)

5.75%

None

+5.8 pp in OH

Income Tax (top rate)

2.75%

None

+2.8 pp in OH

Columbus vs Manchester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Columbus or Manchester?: Columbus, OH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,270 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 11% below Manchester, NH's $1,430, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Columbus than in Manchester?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Columbus versus $46,000 in Manchester.
Which has lower taxes, Columbus or Manchester?: Columbus is taxed under Ohio's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% 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).