Is it cheaper to live in Manchester or Newark?

Newark, NJ is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,210 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 15% below Manchester, NH's $1,430, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Manchester versus $39,000 in Newark.

Which has lower taxes, Manchester or Newark?

Manchester is taxed under New Hampshire's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Newark under New Jersey's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax).

Manchester vs Newark Cost of Living 2026

Manchester

New Hampshire

$1,430/mo est.

Newark

New Jersey

$1,210/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 $1,210 in Newark, NJ. Overall, Newark, NJ is roughly 15% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Manchester, NH, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $77,415 in Manchester, NH and $48,416 in Newark, NJ — about 37% higher in Manchester, NH. New Hampshire has no state income tax and no state sales tax; New Jersey has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax.

Manchester, NH

Newark, NJ

Rent

Studio

$880

$1,111

+26% in Newark, NJ

1 Bedroom

$1,150

$978

+15% in Manchester, NH

2 Bedroom

$1,593

$1,386

+13% in Manchester, NH

3 Bedroom

$1,661

$1,695

+2% in Newark, NJ

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$336,300

$337,800

+0% in Newark, NJ

Income

Median Household Income

$77,415

$48,416

+37% in Manchester, NH

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$56,530

$61,430

+9% in Newark, NJ

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

37.9 yr

34.8 yr

+3.1 yr in Manchester, NH

Homeownership

49.3%

24.1%

+25.2 pp in Manchester, NH

Bachelor's+ (25+)

33.5%

17.4%

+16.1 pp in Manchester, NH

Avg Commute

23.8 min

33.2 min

+9.4 min in Newark, NJ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

339.5

582.5

+72% in Newark, NJ

Property Crime

1,691.4

1,961.8

+16% in Newark, NJ

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

54.9°F

+5.7°F in Newark, NJ

Annual Precipitation

44.6 in

46.3 in

+1.7 in in Newark, NJ

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.86/gal

about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

27.3

23.3

+15% in Manchester, NH

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$24.53

$15.93

+35% in Manchester, NH

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.92

about equal

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

about equal

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

about equal

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NH / NJ)

None

6.625%

+6.6 pp in NJ

Income Tax (top rate)

None

10.75%

+10.8 pp in NJ

Manchester vs Newark — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Manchester or Newark?: Newark, NJ is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,210 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 15% below Manchester, NH's $1,430, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Manchester than in Newark?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Manchester versus $39,000 in Newark.
Which has lower taxes, Manchester or Newark?: Manchester is taxed under New Hampshire's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Newark under New Jersey's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% 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).