Is it cheaper to live in Fairbanks or Manchester?

Fairbanks, AK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,350 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 5% below Manchester, NH's $1,420, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Fairbanks versus $46,000 in Manchester.

Which has lower taxes, Fairbanks or Manchester?

Fairbanks is taxed under Alaska's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Manchester under New Hampshire's (no state income tax and no state sales tax).

Fairbanks vs Manchester Cost of Living 2026

Fairbanks

Alaska

$1,350/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 $1,350 in Fairbanks, AK versus $1,420 in Manchester, NH. Overall, Fairbanks, AK is roughly 5% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Manchester, NH, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $72,077 in Fairbanks, AK and $77,415 in Manchester, NH — about 7% higher in Manchester, NH. Alaska has no state income tax and no state sales tax; New Hampshire has no state income tax and no state sales tax.

Fairbanks, AK

Manchester, NH

Rent

Studio

$883

$880

+0% in Fairbanks, AK

1 Bedroom

$1,076

$1,150

+7% in Manchester, NH

2 Bedroom

$1,428

$1,593

+12% in Manchester, NH

3 Bedroom

$2,019

$1,661

+18% in Fairbanks, AK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$255,700

$336,300

+32% in Manchester, NH

Income

Median Household Income

$72,077

$77,415

+7% in Manchester, NH

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$61,810

$56,530

+9% in Fairbanks, AK

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

28.6 yr

37.9 yr

+9.3 yr in Manchester, NH

Homeownership

40.5%

49.3%

+8.8 pp in Manchester, NH

Bachelor's+ (25+)

26.5%

33.5%

+7.0 pp in Manchester, NH

Avg Commute

14.1 min

23.8 min

+9.7 min in Manchester, NH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

726.1

339.5

+53% in Fairbanks, AK

Property Crime

3,504.2

1,691.4

+52% in Fairbanks, AK

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

27.7°F

49.2°F

+21.5°F in Manchester, NH

Annual Precipitation

10.8 in

44.6 in

+33.8 in in Manchester, NH

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$5.21/gal

$3.94/gal

+24% in Fairbanks, AK

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

28.2

27.0

+4% in Fairbanks, AK

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$17.35

$21.67

+25% in Manchester, NH

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

$4.31

+10% in Fairbanks, AK

Bread (lb)

$2.04

$1.92

+6% in Fairbanks, AK

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.90

+6% in Fairbanks, AK

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$2.19

+9% in Manchester, NH

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.69

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AK / NH)

None

about equal

Income Tax (top rate)

None

about equal

Fairbanks vs Manchester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fairbanks or Manchester?: Fairbanks, AK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,350 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 5% below Manchester, NH's $1,420, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fairbanks than in Manchester?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Fairbanks versus $46,000 in Manchester.
Which has lower taxes, Fairbanks or Manchester?: Fairbanks is taxed under Alaska's rules (no state income tax and no 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).