Is it cheaper to live in Kansas City or Manchester?

Kansas City, MO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,200 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 16% below Manchester, NH's $1,430, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year in Kansas City versus $46,000 in Manchester.

Which has lower taxes, Kansas City or Manchester?

Kansas City is taxed under Missouri's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax); Manchester under New Hampshire's (no state income tax and no state sales tax).

Kansas City vs Manchester Cost of Living 2026

Kansas City

Missouri

$1,200/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 $1,200 in Kansas City, MO versus $1,430 in Manchester, NH. Overall, Kansas City, MO is roughly 16% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Manchester, NH, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $67,449 in Kansas City, MO and $77,415 in Manchester, NH — about 13% higher in Manchester, NH. Missouri has a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax; New Hampshire has no state income tax and no state sales tax.

Kansas City, MO

Manchester, NH

Rent

Studio

$961

$880

+8% in Kansas City, MO

1 Bedroom

$1,031

$1,150

+12% in Manchester, NH

2 Bedroom

$1,211

$1,593

+32% in Manchester, NH

3 Bedroom

$1,381

$1,661

+20% in Manchester, NH

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$227,000

$336,300

+48% in Manchester, NH

Income

Median Household Income

$67,449

$77,415

+15% in Manchester, NH

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$50,820

$56,530

+11% in Manchester, NH

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.7 yr

37.9 yr

+2.2 yr in Manchester, NH

Homeownership

54.6%

49.3%

+5.3 pp in Kansas City, MO

Bachelor's+ (25+)

37.8%

33.5%

+4.3 pp in Kansas City, MO

Avg Commute

21.9 min

23.8 min

+1.9 min in Manchester, NH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,557.1

339.5

+78% in Kansas City, MO

Property Crime

4,722.1

1,691.4

+64% in Kansas City, MO

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

56.7°F

49.2°F

+7.5°F in Kansas City, MO

Annual Precipitation

39.1 in

44.6 in

+5.5 in in Manchester, NH

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$3.86/gal

+2% in Kansas City, MO

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.00

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

13.7

27.3

+100% in Manchester, NH

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$24.13

$24.53

+2% 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 Kansas City, MO

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 (MO / NH)

4.225%

None

+4.2 pp in MO

Income Tax (top rate)

4.70%

None

+4.7 pp in MO

Kansas City vs Manchester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Kansas City or Manchester?: Kansas City, MO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,200 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 16% below Manchester, NH's $1,430, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Kansas City than in Manchester?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year in Kansas City versus $46,000 in Manchester.
Which has lower taxes, Kansas City or Manchester?: Kansas City is taxed under Missouri's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% 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).