Is it cheaper to live in Manchester or Naperville?

Manchester, NH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,430 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 22% below Naperville, IL's $1,830, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Manchester versus $64,000 in Naperville.

Which has lower taxes, Manchester or Naperville?

Manchester is taxed under New Hampshire's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Naperville under Illinois's (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Manchester vs Naperville Cost of Living 2026

Manchester

New Hampshire

$1,430/mo est.

Naperville

Illinois

$1,830/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,430 in Manchester, NH versus $1,830 in Naperville, IL. Overall, Manchester, NH is roughly 22% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Naperville, IL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $77,415 in Manchester, NH and $150,937 in Naperville, IL — about 49% higher in Naperville, IL. New Hampshire has no state income tax and no state sales tax; Illinois has a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Manchester, NH

Naperville, IL

Rent

Studio

$880

$1,713

+95% in Naperville, IL

1 Bedroom

$1,150

$1,594

+39% in Naperville, IL

2 Bedroom

$1,593

$1,889

+19% in Naperville, IL

3 Bedroom

$1,661

$2,446

+47% in Naperville, IL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$336,300

$509,900

+52% in Naperville, IL

Income

Median Household Income

$77,415

$150,937

+95% in Naperville, IL

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$56,530

$54,720

+3% in Manchester, NH

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

37.9 yr

40.1 yr

+2.2 yr in Naperville, IL

Homeownership

49.3%

74.3%

+25.0 pp in Naperville, IL

Bachelor's+ (25+)

33.5%

71.7%

+38.2 pp in Naperville, IL

Avg Commute

23.8 min

31.4 min

+7.6 min in Naperville, IL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

339.5

85.7

+75% in Manchester, NH

Property Crime

1,691.4

892.2

+47% 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

49.9°F

+0.7°F in Naperville, IL

Annual Precipitation

44.6 in

36.9 in

+7.7 in in Manchester, NH

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.86/gal

$3.94/gal

+2% in Naperville, IL

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

27.3

23.9

+13% in Manchester, NH

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$24.53

$15.39

+37% in Manchester, NH

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$1.66

+14% in Manchester, NH

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$3.63

+66% in Naperville, IL

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$6.77

+2% in Manchester, NH

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

$2.10

+4% in Manchester, NH

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

$0.62

+11% in Manchester, NH

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NH / IL)

None

6.25%

+6.3 pp in IL

Income Tax (top rate)

None

4.95%

+5.0 pp in IL

Manchester vs Naperville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Manchester or Naperville?: Manchester, NH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,430 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 22% below Naperville, IL's $1,830, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Manchester than in Naperville?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Manchester versus $64,000 in Naperville.
Which has lower taxes, Manchester or Naperville?: Manchester is taxed under New Hampshire's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Naperville under Illinois's (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% 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).