Is it cheaper to live in Manchester or Rochester?

Rochester, MN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,280 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 10% 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 Rochester?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Manchester versus $44,000 in Rochester.

Which has lower taxes, Manchester or Rochester?

Manchester is taxed under New Hampshire's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Rochester under Minnesota's (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax).

Manchester vs Rochester Cost of Living 2026

Manchester

New Hampshire

$1,430/mo est.

Rochester

Minnesota

$1,280/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 $1,280 in Rochester, MN. Overall, Rochester, MN is roughly 10% 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 $87,767 in Rochester, MN — about 12% higher in Rochester, MN. New Hampshire has no state income tax and no state sales tax; Minnesota has a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax.

Manchester, NH

Rochester, MN

Rent

Studio

$880

$1,080

+23% in Rochester, MN

1 Bedroom

$1,150

$1,106

+4% in Manchester, NH

2 Bedroom

$1,593

$1,243

+22% in Manchester, NH

3 Bedroom

$1,661

$1,646

+1% in Manchester, NH

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$336,300

$287,500

+15% in Manchester, NH

Income

Median Household Income

$77,415

$87,767

+13% in Rochester, MN

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$56,530

$60,620

+7% in Rochester, MN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

37.9 yr

36.4 yr

+1.5 yr in Manchester, NH

Homeownership

49.3%

65.4%

+16.1 pp in Rochester, MN

Bachelor's+ (25+)

33.5%

50.1%

+16.6 pp in Rochester, MN

Avg Commute

23.8 min

17.2 min

+6.6 min in Manchester, NH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

339.5

158.9

+53% in Manchester, NH

Property Crime

1,691.4

1,379

+18% 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

45.4°F

+3.8°F in Manchester, NH

Annual Precipitation

44.6 in

33.0 in

+11.6 in in Manchester, NH

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.86/gal

$3.95/gal

+2% in Rochester, MN

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Minnesota.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

27.3

16.9

+38% in Manchester, NH

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$24.53

$14.95

+39% in Manchester, NH

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$1.66

+14% in Manchester, NH

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$3.63

+66% in Rochester, MN

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$6.77

+2% in Manchester, NH

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

$2.10

+4% in Manchester, NH

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

$0.62

+11% in Manchester, NH

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NH / MN)

None

6.875%

+6.9 pp in MN

Income Tax (top rate)

None

9.85%

+9.8 pp in MN

Manchester vs Rochester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Manchester or Rochester?: Rochester, MN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,280 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 10% 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 Rochester?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Manchester versus $44,000 in Rochester.
Which has lower taxes, Manchester or Rochester?: Manchester is taxed under New Hampshire's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Rochester under Minnesota's (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% 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).