Is it cheaper to live in Dallas or Manchester?

Manchester, NH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,430 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 3% below Dallas, TX's $1,480, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $51,000 a year in Dallas versus $46,000 in Manchester.

Which has lower taxes, Dallas or Manchester?

Dallas is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Manchester under New Hampshire's (no state income tax and no state sales tax).

Dallas vs Manchester Cost of Living 2026

Dallas

Texas

$1,480/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 $1,480 in Dallas, TX versus $1,430 in Manchester, NH. Overall, Manchester, NH is roughly 3% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Dallas, TX, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $67,760 in Dallas, TX and $77,415 in Manchester, NH — about 12% higher in Manchester, NH. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax; New Hampshire has no state income tax and no state sales tax.

Dallas, TX

Manchester, NH

Rent

Studio

$1,259

$880

+30% in Dallas, TX

1 Bedroom

$1,280

$1,150

+10% in Dallas, TX

2 Bedroom

$1,500

$1,593

+6% in Manchester, NH

3 Bedroom

$1,559

$1,661

+7% in Manchester, NH

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$295,300

$336,300

+14% in Manchester, NH

Income

Median Household Income

$67,760

$77,415

+14% in Manchester, NH

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,440

$56,530

+10% in Manchester, NH

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

33.4 yr

37.9 yr

+4.5 yr in Manchester, NH

Homeownership

42.4%

49.3%

+6.9 pp in Manchester, NH

Bachelor's+ (25+)

37.4%

33.5%

+3.9 pp in Dallas, TX

Avg Commute

26.0 min

23.8 min

+2.2 min in Dallas, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

661.9

339.5

+49% in Dallas, TX

Property Crime

3,412.9

1,691.4

+50% in Dallas, TX

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

67.2°F

49.2°F

+18.0°F in Dallas, TX

Annual Precipitation

37.6 in

44.6 in

+7.0 in in Manchester, NH

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$3.86/gal

+7% in Manchester, NH

Area: Texas vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.50

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.4

27.3

+66% in Manchester, NH

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$30.48

$24.53

+20% in Dallas, TX

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 Dallas, TX

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 (TX / NH)

6.25%

None

+6.3 pp in TX

Income Tax (top rate)

None

about equal

Dallas vs Manchester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Dallas or Manchester?: Manchester, NH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,430 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 3% below Dallas, TX's $1,480, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Dallas than in Manchester?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $51,000 a year in Dallas versus $46,000 in Manchester.
Which has lower taxes, Dallas or Manchester?: Dallas is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% 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).