Is it cheaper to live in Manchester or Norfolk?

Norfolk, VA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,230 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 14% below Manchester, NH's $1,430, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Manchester versus $41,000 in Norfolk.

Which has lower taxes, Manchester or Norfolk?

Manchester is taxed under New Hampshire's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Norfolk under Virginia's (a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax).

Manchester vs Norfolk Cost of Living 2026

Manchester

New Hampshire

$1,430/mo est.

Norfolk

Virginia

$1,230/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 $1,230 in Norfolk, VA. Overall, Norfolk, VA is roughly 14% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Manchester, NH, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $77,415 in Manchester, NH and $64,017 in Norfolk, VA — about 17% higher in Manchester, NH. New Hampshire has no state income tax and no state sales tax; Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax.

Manchester, NH

Norfolk, VA

Rent

Studio

$880

$1,102

+25% in Norfolk, VA

1 Bedroom

$1,150

$1,032

+10% in Manchester, NH

2 Bedroom

$1,593

$1,214

+24% in Manchester, NH

3 Bedroom

$1,661

$1,602

+4% in Manchester, NH

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$336,300

$271,900

+19% in Manchester, NH

Income

Median Household Income

$77,415

$64,017

+17% in Manchester, NH

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$56,530

$49,430

+13% in Manchester, NH

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

37.9 yr

32.4 yr

+5.5 yr in Manchester, NH

Homeownership

49.3%

45.7%

+3.6 pp in Manchester, NH

Bachelor's+ (25+)

33.5%

32.7%

+0.8 pp in Manchester, NH

Avg Commute

23.8 min

22.9 min

+0.9 min in Manchester, NH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

339.5

479.5

+41% in Norfolk, VA

Property Crime

1,691.4

3,800.7

+125% in Norfolk, VA

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

61.3°F

+12.1°F in Norfolk, VA

Annual Precipitation

44.6 in

44.8 in

+0.2 in in Norfolk, VA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.86/gal

about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

27.3

17.6

+36% in Manchester, NH

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$24.53

$23.66

+4% in Manchester, NH

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.00

+7% in Manchester, NH

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$1.75

+9% in Manchester, NH

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$2.21

+1% in Norfolk, VA

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$6.45

+6% in Manchester, NH

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

$1.90

+13% in Manchester, NH

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

$0.62

+11% in Manchester, NH

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NH / VA)

None

5.3%

+5.3 pp in VA

Income Tax (top rate)

None

5.75%

+5.8 pp in VA

Manchester vs Norfolk — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Manchester or Norfolk?: Norfolk, VA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,230 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 14% below Manchester, NH's $1,430, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Manchester than in Norfolk?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Manchester versus $41,000 in Norfolk.
Which has lower taxes, Manchester or Norfolk?: Manchester is taxed under New Hampshire's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Norfolk under Virginia's (a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% 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).