Living Cost Compare
Fresno

California

$1,370/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 $1,370 in Fresno, CA versus $1,430 in Manchester, NH. Overall, Fresno, CA is roughly 4% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Manchester, NH, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $66,804 in Fresno, CA and $77,415 in Manchester, NH — about 14% higher in Manchester, NH. California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax; New Hampshire has no state income tax and no state sales tax.

Fresno, CA
Manchester, NH

Rent

Studio
$1,072
$880
+18% in Fresno, CA
1 Bedroom
$1,042
$1,150
+10% in Manchester, NH
2 Bedroom
$1,293
$1,593
+23% in Manchester, NH
3 Bedroom
$1,688
$1,661
+2% in Fresno, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$348,500
$336,300
+4% in Fresno, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$66,804
$77,415
+16% in Manchester, NH
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,910
$56,530
+21% in Manchester, NH

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
32.4 yr
37.9 yr
+5.5 yr in Manchester, NH
Homeownership
49.7%
49.3%
+0.4 pp in Fresno, CA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
24.9%
33.5%
+8.6 pp in Manchester, NH
Avg Commute
22.3 min
23.8 min
+1.5 min in Manchester, NH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
742.2
339.5
+54% in Fresno, CA
Property Crime
3,335.3
1,691.4
+49% in Fresno, CA

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
64.4°F
49.2°F
+15.2°F in Fresno, CA
Annual Precipitation
11.5 in
44.6 in
+33.1 in in Manchester, NH

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.40/gal
$3.86/gal
+28% in Fresno, CA

Area: California vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.25
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
33.3
27.3
+18% in Fresno, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.72
$24.53
+18% in Manchester, NH

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.31
+10% in Fresno, CA
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$1.92
+6% in Fresno, CA
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.90
+6% in Fresno, CA
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 (CA / NH)
7.25%
None
+7.3 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
13.30%
None
+13.3 pp in CA

Fresno vs Manchester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fresno or Manchester?
Fresno, CA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,370 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 4% below Manchester, NH's $1,430, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fresno than in Manchester?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Fresno versus $46,000 in Manchester.
Which has lower taxes, Fresno or Manchester?
Fresno is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% 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).