Is it cheaper to live in Nashua or Phoenix?

Phoenix, AZ is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,430 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 14% below Nashua, NH's $1,660, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Nashua than in Phoenix?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $55,000 a year in Nashua versus $50,000 in Phoenix.

Which has lower taxes, Nashua or Phoenix?

Nashua is taxed under New Hampshire's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Phoenix under Arizona's (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax).

Nashua vs Phoenix Cost of Living 2026

Nashua

New Hampshire

$1,660/mo est.

Phoenix

Arizona

$1,430/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,660 in Nashua, NH versus $1,430 in Phoenix, AZ. Overall, Phoenix, AZ is roughly 14% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Nashua, NH, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $92,457 in Nashua, NH and $77,041 in Phoenix, AZ — about 17% higher in Nashua, NH. New Hampshire has no state income tax and no state sales tax; Arizona has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax.

Nashua, NH

Phoenix, AZ

Rent

Studio

$1,127

about equal

1 Bedroom

$1,383

$1,253

+9% in Nashua, NH

2 Bedroom

$1,699

$1,493

+12% in Nashua, NH

3 Bedroom

$1,951

$1,771

+9% in Nashua, NH

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$373,100

$381,900

+2% in Phoenix, AZ

Income

Median Household Income

$92,457

$77,041

+17% in Nashua, NH

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$56,530

$51,380

+9% in Nashua, NH

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

39.7 yr

34.8 yr

+4.9 yr in Nashua, NH

Homeownership

56.4%

57.1%

+0.7 pp in Phoenix, AZ

Bachelor's+ (25+)

40.5%

32.3%

+8.2 pp in Nashua, NH

Avg Commute

25.3 min

25.7 min

+0.4 min in Phoenix, AZ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

164.9

799.6

+385% in Phoenix, AZ

Property Crime

1,269

2,338.9

+84% in Phoenix, AZ

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

75.1°F

+25.9°F in Phoenix, AZ

Annual Precipitation

44.6 in

8.2 in

+36.4 in in Nashua, NH

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$5.21/gal

+32% in Phoenix, AZ

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

27.0

15.2

+44% in Nashua, NH

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$21.67

$24.74

+14% in Phoenix, AZ

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Phoenix, AZ

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$2.04

+6% in Phoenix, AZ

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$7.36

+7% in Phoenix, AZ

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

$2.01

+8% in Nashua, 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 / AZ)

None

5.6%

+5.6 pp in AZ

Income Tax (top rate)

None

2.50%

+2.5 pp in AZ

Nashua vs Phoenix — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Nashua or Phoenix?: Phoenix, AZ is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,430 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 14% below Nashua, NH's $1,660, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Nashua than in Phoenix?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $55,000 a year in Nashua versus $50,000 in Phoenix.
Which has lower taxes, Nashua or Phoenix?: Nashua is taxed under New Hampshire's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Phoenix under Arizona's (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% 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).