Is it cheaper to live in Manchester or Reno?

Reno, NV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,350 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 6% below Manchester, NH's $1,430, mainly because of electricity costs.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Manchester versus $48,000 in Reno.

Which has lower taxes, Manchester or Reno?

Manchester is taxed under New Hampshire's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Reno under Nevada's (no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax).

Manchester vs Reno Cost of Living 2026

Manchester

New Hampshire

$1,430/mo est.

Reno

Nevada

$1,350/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 $1,350 in Reno, NV. Overall, Reno, NV is roughly 6% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Manchester, NH, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $77,415 in Manchester, NH and $78,448 in Reno, NV — about 1% higher in Reno, NV. New Hampshire has no state income tax and no state sales tax; Nevada has no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax.

Manchester, NH

Reno, NV

Rent

Studio

$880

$964

+10% in Reno, NV

1 Bedroom

$1,150

$1,206

+5% in Reno, NV

2 Bedroom

$1,593

$1,518

+5% in Manchester, NH

3 Bedroom

$1,661

$1,885

+13% in Reno, NV

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$336,300

$498,600

+48% in Reno, NV

Income

Median Household Income

$77,415

$78,448

+1% in Reno, NV

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$56,530

$49,660

+12% in Manchester, NH

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

37.9 yr

37.3 yr

+0.6 yr in Manchester, NH

Homeownership

49.3%

49.4%

+0.1 pp in Reno, NV

Bachelor's+ (25+)

33.5%

35.7%

+2.2 pp in Reno, NV

Avg Commute

23.8 min

20.6 min

+3.2 min in Manchester, NH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

339.5

528.9

+56% in Reno, NV

Property Crime

1,691.4

2,489.3

+47% in Reno, NV

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

53.8°F

+4.6°F in Reno, NV

Annual Precipitation

44.6 in

7.4 in

+37.2 in in Manchester, NH

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.86/gal

$5.09/gal

+32% in Reno, NV

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

27.3

13.6

+50% in Manchester, NH

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$24.53

$12.09

+51% in Manchester, NH

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Reno, NV

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$2.04

+6% in Reno, NV

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$7.36

+7% in Reno, NV

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 / NV)

None

6.85%

+6.8 pp in NV

Income Tax (top rate)

None

about equal

Manchester vs Reno — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Manchester or Reno?: Reno, NV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,350 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 6% below Manchester, NH's $1,430, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Manchester than in Reno?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Manchester versus $48,000 in Reno.
Which has lower taxes, Manchester or Reno?: Manchester is taxed under New Hampshire's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Reno under Nevada's (no state income tax and a 6.85% 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).