Is it cheaper to live in Manchester or Pittsburgh?

Pittsburgh, PA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 9% below Manchester, NH's $1,430, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Manchester versus $43,000 in Pittsburgh.

Which has lower taxes, Manchester or Pittsburgh?

Manchester is taxed under New Hampshire's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Pittsburgh under Pennsylvania's (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax).

Manchester vs Pittsburgh Cost of Living 2026

Manchester

New Hampshire

$1,430/mo est.

Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania

$1,300/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 $1,300 in Pittsburgh, PA. Overall, Pittsburgh, PA is roughly 9% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Manchester, NH, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $77,415 in Manchester, NH and $64,137 in Pittsburgh, PA — about 17% higher in Manchester, NH. New Hampshire has no state income tax and no state sales tax; Pennsylvania has a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax.

Manchester, NH

Pittsburgh, PA

Rent

Studio

$880

$1,109

+26% in Pittsburgh, PA

1 Bedroom

$1,150

$1,079

+6% in Manchester, NH

2 Bedroom

$1,593

$1,269

+20% in Manchester, NH

3 Bedroom

$1,661

$1,450

+13% in Manchester, NH

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$336,300

$193,200

+43% in Manchester, NH

Income

Median Household Income

$77,415

$64,137

+17% in Manchester, NH

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$56,530

$49,650

+12% in Manchester, NH

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

37.9 yr

33.5 yr

+4.4 yr in Manchester, NH

Homeownership

49.3%

47.2%

+2.1 pp in Manchester, NH

Bachelor's+ (25+)

33.5%

47.8%

+14.3 pp in Pittsburgh, PA

Avg Commute

23.8 min

23.1 min

+0.7 min in Manchester, NH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

339.5

436

+28% in Pittsburgh, PA

Property Crime

1,691.4

2,315.7

+37% in Pittsburgh, PA

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

51.8°F

+2.6°F in Pittsburgh, PA

Annual Precipitation

44.6 in

39.3 in

+5.3 in in Manchester, NH

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.86/gal

about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

27.3

21.6

+21% in Manchester, NH

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$24.53

$19.17

+22% 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 / PA)

None

+6.0 pp in PA

Income Tax (top rate)

None

3.07%

+3.1 pp in PA

Manchester vs Pittsburgh — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Manchester or Pittsburgh?: Pittsburgh, PA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 9% below Manchester, NH's $1,430, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Manchester than in Pittsburgh?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Manchester versus $43,000 in Pittsburgh.
Which has lower taxes, Manchester or Pittsburgh?: Manchester is taxed under New Hampshire's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Pittsburgh under Pennsylvania's (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% 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).