Is it cheaper to live in Madison or Manchester?

Madison, WI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,410 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Manchester, NH's $1,430, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $49,000 a year in Madison versus $46,000 in Manchester.

Which has lower taxes, Madison or Manchester?

Madison is taxed under Wisconsin's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax); Manchester under New Hampshire's (no state income tax and no state sales tax).

Madison vs Manchester Cost of Living 2026

Madison

Wisconsin

$1,410/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 $1,410 in Madison, WI versus $1,430 in Manchester, NH. Overall, Madison, WI is roughly 1% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Manchester, NH, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $76,983 in Madison, WI and $77,415 in Manchester, NH — about 1% higher in Manchester, NH. Wisconsin has a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax; New Hampshire has no state income tax and no state sales tax.

Madison, WI

Manchester, NH

Rent

Studio

$1,018

$880

+14% in Madison, WI

1 Bedroom

$1,219

$1,150

+6% in Madison, WI

2 Bedroom

$1,432

$1,593

+11% in Manchester, NH

3 Bedroom

$1,766

$1,661

+6% in Madison, WI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$346,900

$336,300

+3% in Madison, WI

Income

Median Household Income

$76,983

$77,415

+1% in Manchester, NH

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$58,080

$56,530

+3% in Madison, WI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

31.8 yr

37.9 yr

+6.1 yr in Manchester, NH

Homeownership

46.6%

49.3%

+2.7 pp in Manchester, NH

Bachelor's+ (25+)

59.2%

33.5%

+25.7 pp in Madison, WI

Avg Commute

19.4 min

23.8 min

+4.4 min in Manchester, NH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

259.5

339.5

+31% in Manchester, NH

Property Crime

1,884.5

1,691.4

+10% in Madison, WI

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

46.5°F

49.2°F

+2.7°F in Manchester, NH

Annual Precipitation

34.5 in

44.6 in

+10.1 in in Manchester, NH

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$3.86/gal

+2% in Madison, WI

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

19.7

27.3

+38% in Manchester, NH

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$11.79

$24.53

+108% 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 Madison, WI

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 (WI / NH)

None

+5.0 pp in WI

Income Tax (top rate)

7.65%

None

+7.7 pp in WI

Madison vs Manchester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Madison or Manchester?: Madison, WI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,410 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Manchester, NH's $1,430, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Madison than in Manchester?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $49,000 a year in Madison versus $46,000 in Manchester.
Which has lower taxes, Madison or Manchester?: Madison is taxed under Wisconsin's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% 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).