Living Cost Compare
Lexington

Kentucky

$1,070/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 $1,070 in Lexington, KY versus $1,430 in Manchester, NH. Overall, Lexington, KY is roughly 25% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Manchester, NH, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $67,631 in Lexington, KY and $77,415 in Manchester, NH — about 13% higher in Manchester, NH. Kentucky has a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax; New Hampshire has no state income tax and no state sales tax.

Lexington, KY
Manchester, NH

Rent

Studio
$769
$880
+14% in Manchester, NH
1 Bedroom
$887
$1,150
+30% in Manchester, NH
2 Bedroom
$1,119
$1,593
+42% in Manchester, NH
3 Bedroom
$1,408
$1,661
+18% in Manchester, NH

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$272,100
$336,300
+24% in Manchester, NH

Income

Median Household Income
$67,631
$77,415
+14% in Manchester, NH
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,620
$56,530
+16% in Manchester, NH

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.2 yr
37.9 yr
+2.7 yr in Manchester, NH
Homeownership
53.6%
49.3%
+4.3 pp in Lexington, KY
Bachelor's+ (25+)
47.3%
33.5%
+13.8 pp in Lexington, KY
Avg Commute
20.8 min
23.8 min
+3.0 min in Manchester, NH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
269.1
339.5
+26% in Manchester, NH
Property Crime
2,304.4
1,691.4
+27% in Lexington, KY

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
55.6°F
49.2°F
+6.4°F in Lexington, KY
Annual Precipitation
45.2 in
44.6 in
+0.6 in in Lexington, KY

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.86/gal
+2% in Lexington, KY

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.0
27.3
+82% in Manchester, NH
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.48
$24.53
+17% in Lexington, KY

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 Lexington, KY
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 (KY / NH)
6%
None
+6.0 pp in KY
Income Tax (top rate)
3.50%
None
+3.5 pp in KY

Lexington vs Manchester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Lexington or Manchester?
Lexington, KY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,070 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 25% below Manchester, NH's $1,430, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Lexington than in Manchester?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Lexington versus $46,000 in Manchester.
Which has lower taxes, Lexington or Manchester?
Lexington is taxed under Kentucky's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.50% 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).