Is it cheaper to live in Manchester or Provo?

Provo, UT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,120 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 21% below Manchester, NH's $1,420, mainly because of rent.

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

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 Provo.

Which has lower taxes, Manchester or Provo?

Manchester is taxed under New Hampshire's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Provo under Utah's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% state sales tax).

Manchester vs Provo Cost of Living 2026

Manchester

New Hampshire

$1,420/mo est.

Provo

Utah

$1,120/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 $1,120 in Provo, UT. Overall, Provo, UT is roughly 21% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Manchester, NH, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $77,415 in Manchester, NH and $62,800 in Provo, UT — about 19% higher in Manchester, NH. New Hampshire has no state income tax and no state sales tax; Utah has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% state sales tax.

Manchester, NH

Provo, UT

Rent

Studio

$880

$1,009

+15% in Provo, UT

1 Bedroom

$1,150

$978

+15% in Manchester, NH

2 Bedroom

$1,593

$1,128

+29% in Manchester, NH

3 Bedroom

$1,661

$1,381

+17% in Manchester, NH

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$336,300

$437,100

+30% in Provo, UT

Income

Median Household Income

$77,415

$62,800

+19% in Manchester, NH

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$56,530

$48,010

+15% in Manchester, NH

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

37.9 yr

23.7 yr

+14.2 yr in Manchester, NH

Homeownership

49.3%

39.9%

+9.4 pp in Manchester, NH

Bachelor's+ (25+)

33.5%

45.0%

+11.5 pp in Provo, UT

Avg Commute

23.8 min

18.5 min

+5.3 min in Manchester, NH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

339.5

205.7

+39% in Manchester, NH

Property Crime

1,691.4

1,280.6

+24% 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

53.4°F

+4.2°F in Provo, UT

Annual Precipitation

44.6 in

19.8 in

+24.8 in in Manchester, NH

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$4.27/gal

+8% in Provo, UT

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

27.0

13.4

+50% in Manchester, NH

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$21.67

$11.84

+45% in Manchester, NH

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Provo, UT

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$2.04

+6% in Provo, UT

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$7.36

+7% in Provo, UT

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

$2.01

+8% in Manchester, NH

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

$0.70

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NH / UT)

None

6.1%

+6.1 pp in UT

Income Tax (top rate)

None

4.50%

+4.5 pp in UT

Manchester vs Provo — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Manchester or Provo?: Provo, UT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,120 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 21% below Manchester, NH's $1,420, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Manchester than in Provo?: 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 Provo.
Which has lower taxes, Manchester or Provo?: Manchester is taxed under New Hampshire's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Provo under Utah's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% 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).