Is it cheaper to live in Manchester or Seattle?

Manchester, NH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,430 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 30% below Seattle, WA's $2,030, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Manchester versus $74,000 in Seattle.

Which has lower taxes, Manchester or Seattle?

Manchester is taxed under New Hampshire's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Seattle under Washington's (no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax).

Manchester vs Seattle Cost of Living 2026

Manchester

New Hampshire

$1,430/mo est.

Seattle

Washington

$2,030/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 $2,030 in Seattle, WA. Overall, Manchester, NH is roughly 30% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Seattle, WA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $77,415 in Manchester, NH and $121,984 in Seattle, WA — about 37% higher in Seattle, WA. New Hampshire has no state income tax and no state sales tax; Washington has no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Manchester, NH

Seattle, WA

Rent

Studio

$880

$1,638

+86% in Seattle, WA

1 Bedroom

$1,150

$1,858

+62% in Seattle, WA

2 Bedroom

$1,593

$2,359

+48% in Seattle, WA

3 Bedroom

$1,661

$2,918

+76% in Seattle, WA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$336,300

$912,100

+171% in Seattle, WA

Income

Median Household Income

$77,415

$121,984

+58% in Seattle, WA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$56,530

$72,610

+28% in Seattle, WA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

37.9 yr

35.5 yr

+2.4 yr in Manchester, NH

Homeownership

49.3%

44.2%

+5.1 pp in Manchester, NH

Bachelor's+ (25+)

33.5%

67.5%

+34.0 pp in Seattle, WA

Avg Commute

23.8 min

26.6 min

+2.8 min in Seattle, WA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

339.5

788.6

+132% in Seattle, WA

Property Crime

1,691.4

5,108.8

+202% in Seattle, WA

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

53.5°F

+4.3°F in Seattle, WA

Annual Precipitation

44.6 in

37.7 in

+6.9 in in Manchester, NH

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.86/gal

$5.31/gal

+38% in Seattle, WA

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Seattle.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.75

Adult base one-way fare — — vs King County Metro (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

27.3

14.9

+45% in Manchester, NH

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$24.53

$20.41

+17% in Manchester, NH

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Seattle, WA

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$2.04

+6% in Seattle, WA

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$7.36

+7% in Seattle, WA

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 / WA)

None

6.5%

+6.5 pp in WA

Income Tax (top rate)

None

about equal

Manchester vs Seattle — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Manchester or Seattle?: Manchester, NH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,430 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 30% below Seattle, WA's $2,030, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Manchester than in Seattle?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Manchester versus $74,000 in Seattle.
Which has lower taxes, Manchester or Seattle?: Manchester is taxed under New Hampshire's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Seattle under Washington's (no state income tax and a 6.5% 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).