Is it cheaper to live in Nashua or Raleigh?

Raleigh, NC is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,510 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 9% below Nashua, NH's $1,660, mainly because of electricity costs.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $55,000 a year in Nashua versus $53,000 in Raleigh.

Which has lower taxes, Nashua or Raleigh?

Nashua is taxed under New Hampshire's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Raleigh under North Carolina's (a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax).

Nashua vs Raleigh Cost of Living 2026

Nashua

New Hampshire

$1,660/mo est.

Raleigh

North Carolina

$1,510/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 $1,510 in Raleigh, NC. Overall, Raleigh, NC is roughly 9% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Nashua, NH, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $92,457 in Nashua, NH and $82,424 in Raleigh, NC — about 11% higher in Nashua, NH. New Hampshire has no state income tax and no state sales tax; North Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax.

Nashua, NH

Raleigh, NC

Rent

Studio

$1,127

$1,301

+15% in Raleigh, NC

1 Bedroom

$1,383

$1,323

+4% in Nashua, NH

2 Bedroom

$1,699

$1,462

+14% in Nashua, NH

3 Bedroom

$1,951

$1,715

+12% in Nashua, NH

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$373,100

$377,800

+1% in Raleigh, NC

Income

Median Household Income

$92,457

$82,424

+11% in Nashua, NH

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$56,530

$51,990

+8% in Nashua, NH

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

39.7 yr

34.7 yr

+5.0 yr in Nashua, NH

Homeownership

56.4%

51.2%

+5.2 pp in Nashua, NH

Bachelor's+ (25+)

40.5%

52.9%

+12.4 pp in Raleigh, NC

Avg Commute

25.3 min

23.4 min

+1.9 min in Nashua, NH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

164.9

491.5

+198% in Raleigh, NC

Property Crime

1,269

2,838.4

+124% in Raleigh, NC

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

60.6°F

+11.4°F in Raleigh, NC

Annual Precipitation

44.6 in

46.0 in

+1.4 in in Raleigh, NC

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

about equal

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$1.25

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

27.0

14.7

+45% in Nashua, NH

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$21.67

$30.10

+39% in Raleigh, NC

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.00

+7% in Nashua, NH

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$1.75

+9% in Nashua, NH

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$2.21

+1% in Raleigh, NC

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$6.45

+6% in Nashua, NH

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

$1.90

+13% in Nashua, NH

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

$0.62

+11% in Nashua, NH

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NH / NC)

None

4.75%

+4.8 pp in NC

Income Tax (top rate)

None

3.99%

+4.0 pp in NC

Nashua vs Raleigh — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Nashua or Raleigh?: Raleigh, NC is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,510 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 9% below Nashua, NH's $1,660, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Nashua than in Raleigh?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $55,000 a year in Nashua versus $53,000 in Raleigh.
Which has lower taxes, Nashua or Raleigh?: Nashua is taxed under New Hampshire's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Raleigh under North Carolina's (a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% 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).