Living Cost Compare
Manchester

New Hampshire

$1,430/mo est.

vs
San Diego

California

$2,210/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 $2,210 in San Diego, CA. Overall, Manchester, NH is roughly 35% cheaper to live in day-to-day than San Diego, CA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $77,415 in Manchester, NH and $104,321 in San Diego, CA — about 26% higher in San Diego, CA. New Hampshire has no state income tax and no state sales tax; California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax.

Manchester, NH
San Diego, CA

Rent

Studio
$880
$1,737
+97% in San Diego, CA
1 Bedroom
$1,150
$1,883
+64% in San Diego, CA
2 Bedroom
$1,593
$2,348
+47% in San Diego, CA
3 Bedroom
$1,661
$2,818
+70% in San Diego, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$336,300
$848,500
+152% in San Diego, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$77,415
$104,321
+35% in San Diego, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$56,530
$58,690
+4% in San Diego, CA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
37.9 yr
36.0 yr
+1.9 yr in Manchester, NH
Homeownership
49.3%
47.6%
+1.7 pp in Manchester, NH
Bachelor's+ (25+)
33.5%
49.9%
+16.4 pp in San Diego, CA
Avg Commute
23.8 min
23.9 min
+0.1 min in San Diego, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
339.5
414.3
+22% in San Diego, CA
Property Crime
1,691.4
1,693.6
+0% in San Diego, CA

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
63.6°F
+14.4°F in San Diego, CA
Annual Precipitation
44.6 in
10.3 in
+34.2 in in Manchester, NH

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$5.40/gal
+40% in San Diego, CA

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs California.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.50

Adult base one-way fare — — vs MTS (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
27.3
33.3
+22% in San Diego, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.53
$20.72
+16% in Manchester, NH

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.82
+12% in San Diego, CA
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$2.04
+6% in San Diego, CA
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$7.36
+7% in San Diego, CA
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 / CA)
None
7.25%
+7.3 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
None
13.30%
+13.3 pp in CA

Manchester vs San Diego — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Manchester or San Diego?
Manchester, NH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,430 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 35% below San Diego, CA's $2,210, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Manchester than in San Diego?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Manchester versus $75,000 in San Diego.
Which has lower taxes, Manchester or San Diego?
Manchester is taxed under New Hampshire's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); San Diego under California's (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% 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).