Living Cost Compare
Des Moines

Iowa

$1,020/mo est.

vs
Manchester

New Hampshire

$1,430/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,020 in Des Moines, IA versus $1,430 in Manchester, NH. Overall, Des Moines, IA is roughly 29% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Manchester, NH, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $63,966 in Des Moines, IA and $77,415 in Manchester, NH — about 17% higher in Manchester, NH. Iowa has a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax; New Hampshire has no state income tax and no state sales tax.

Des Moines, IA
Manchester, NH

Rent

Studio
$870
$880
+1% in Manchester, NH
1 Bedroom
$870
$1,150
+32% in Manchester, NH
2 Bedroom
$1,099
$1,593
+45% in Manchester, NH
3 Bedroom
$1,334
$1,661
+25% in Manchester, NH

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$183,700
$336,300
+83% in Manchester, NH

Income

Median Household Income
$63,966
$77,415
+21% in Manchester, NH
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,820
$56,530
+9% in Manchester, NH

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.6 yr
37.9 yr
+3.3 yr in Manchester, NH
Homeownership
60.4%
49.3%
+11.1 pp in Des Moines, IA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
29.0%
33.5%
+4.5 pp in Manchester, NH
Avg Commute
19.6 min
23.8 min
+4.2 min in Manchester, NH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
707.3
339.5
+52% in Des Moines, IA
Property Crime
3,156.6
1,691.4
+46% in Des Moines, IA

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
50.9°F
49.2°F
+1.7°F in Des Moines, IA
Annual Precipitation
36.0 in
44.6 in
+8.6 in in Manchester, NH

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.86/gal
+2% in Des Moines, IA

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.1
27.3
+93% in Manchester, NH
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$15.72
$24.53
+56% in Manchester, NH

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.92
+16% in Manchester, NH
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.19
+40% in Des Moines, IA
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 (IA / NH)
6%
None
+6.0 pp in IA
Income Tax (top rate)
3.80%
None
+3.8 pp in IA

Des Moines vs Manchester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Des Moines or Manchester?
Des Moines, IA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 29% below Manchester, NH's $1,430, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Des Moines than in Manchester?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Des Moines versus $46,000 in Manchester.
Which has lower taxes, Des Moines or Manchester?
Des Moines is taxed under Iowa's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.80% 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).