Is it cheaper to live in Manchester or Meridian?

Manchester, NH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,420 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 16% below Meridian, ID's $1,690, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Manchester versus $62,000 in Meridian.

Which has lower taxes, Manchester or Meridian?

Manchester is taxed under New Hampshire's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Meridian under Idaho's (a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax).

Manchester vs Meridian Cost of Living 2026

Manchester

New Hampshire

$1,420/mo est.

Meridian

Idaho

$1,690/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,420 in Manchester, NH versus $1,690 in Meridian, ID. Overall, Manchester, NH is roughly 16% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Meridian, ID, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $77,415 in Manchester, NH and $98,686 in Meridian, ID — about 22% higher in Meridian, ID. New Hampshire has no state income tax and no state sales tax; Idaho has a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax.

Manchester, NH

Meridian, ID

Rent

Studio

$880

$1,523

+73% in Meridian, ID

1 Bedroom

$1,150

$1,540

+34% in Meridian, ID

2 Bedroom

$1,593

$1,489

+7% in Manchester, NH

3 Bedroom

$1,661

$1,893

+14% in Meridian, ID

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$336,300

$485,000

+44% in Meridian, ID

Income

Median Household Income

$77,415

$98,686

+27% in Meridian, ID

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$56,530

$49,100

+13% in Manchester, NH

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

37.9 yr

37.4 yr

+0.5 yr in Manchester, NH

Homeownership

49.3%

76.1%

+26.8 pp in Meridian, ID

Bachelor's+ (25+)

33.5%

44.4%

+10.9 pp in Meridian, ID

Avg Commute

23.8 min

22.3 min

+1.5 min in Manchester, NH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

339.5

150.3

+56% in Manchester, NH

Property Crime

1,691.4

583.5

+66% in Manchester, NH

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

49.2°F

52.5°F

+3.3°F in Meridian, ID

Annual Precipitation

44.6 in

11.7 in

+32.8 in in Manchester, NH

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$4.27/gal

+8% in Meridian, ID

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

27.0

14.4

+47% in Manchester, NH

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$21.67

$11.33

+48% in Manchester, NH

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Meridian, ID

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$2.04

+6% in Meridian, ID

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$7.36

+7% in Meridian, ID

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

$2.01

+8% in Manchester, NH

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

$0.70

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NH / ID)

None

+6.0 pp in ID

Income Tax (top rate)

None

5.30%

+5.3 pp in ID

Manchester vs Meridian — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Manchester or Meridian?: Manchester, NH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,420 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 16% below Meridian, ID's $1,690, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Manchester than in Meridian?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Manchester versus $62,000 in Meridian.
Which has lower taxes, Manchester or Meridian?: Manchester is taxed under New Hampshire's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Meridian under Idaho's (a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% 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).