Living Cost Compare
Manchester

New Hampshire

$1,420/mo est.

vs
Nashua

New Hampshire

$1,660/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 $1,660 in Nashua, NH. Overall, Manchester, NH is roughly 14% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Nashua, NH, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $77,415 in Manchester, NH and $92,457 in Nashua, NH — about 16% higher in Nashua, NH. Both cities are in New Hampshire, so state taxes are identical: no state income tax and no state sales tax.

Manchester, NH
Nashua, NH

Rent

Studio
$880
$1,127
+28% in Nashua, NH
1 Bedroom
$1,150
$1,383
+20% in Nashua, NH
2 Bedroom
$1,593
$1,699
+7% in Nashua, NH
3 Bedroom
$1,661
$1,951
+17% in Nashua, NH

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$336,300
$373,100
+11% in Nashua, NH

Income

Median Household Income
$77,415
$92,457
+19% in Nashua, NH
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$56,530
$56,530
about equal

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
37.9 yr
39.7 yr
+1.8 yr in Nashua, NH
Homeownership
49.3%
56.4%
+7.1 pp in Nashua, NH
Bachelor's+ (25+)
33.5%
40.5%
+7.0 pp in Nashua, NH
Avg Commute
23.8 min
25.3 min
+1.5 min in Nashua, NH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
339.5
164.9
+51% in Manchester, NH
Property Crime
1,691.4
1,269
+25% 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
49.2°F
about equal
Annual Precipitation
44.6 in
44.6 in
about equal

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.94/gal
about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
27.0
27.0
about equal
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$21.67
$21.67
about equal

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$1.92
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$6.90
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.69
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NH / NH)
None
None
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
None
None
about equal

Manchester vs Nashua — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Manchester or Nashua?
Manchester, NH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,420 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 14% below Nashua, NH's $1,660, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Manchester than in Nashua?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Manchester versus $55,000 in Nashua.
Which has lower taxes, Manchester or Nashua?
Neither — both are in New Hampshire, so they share the same state tax rates: 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).