Is it cheaper to live in Nashua or Seattle?

Nashua, NH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,660 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 18% below Seattle, WA's $2,030, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $55,000 a year in Nashua versus $74,000 in Seattle.

Which has lower taxes, Nashua or Seattle?

Nashua 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).

Nashua vs Seattle Cost of Living 2026

Nashua

New Hampshire

$1,660/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 $1,660 in Nashua, NH versus $2,030 in Seattle, WA. Overall, Nashua, NH is roughly 18% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Seattle, WA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $92,457 in Nashua, NH and $121,984 in Seattle, WA — about 24% 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.

Nashua, NH

Seattle, WA

Rent

Studio

$1,127

$1,638

+45% in Seattle, WA

1 Bedroom

$1,383

$1,858

+34% in Seattle, WA

2 Bedroom

$1,699

$2,359

+39% in Seattle, WA

3 Bedroom

$1,951

$2,918

+50% in Seattle, WA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$373,100

$912,100

+144% in Seattle, WA

Income

Median Household Income

$92,457

$121,984

+32% in Seattle, WA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$56,530

$72,610

+28% in Seattle, WA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

39.7 yr

35.5 yr

+4.2 yr in Nashua, NH

Homeownership

56.4%

44.2%

+12.2 pp in Nashua, NH

Bachelor's+ (25+)

40.5%

67.5%

+27.0 pp in Seattle, WA

Avg Commute

25.3 min

26.6 min

+1.3 min in Seattle, WA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

164.9

788.6

+378% in Seattle, WA

Property Crime

1,269

5,108.8

+303% 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 Nashua, NH

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$5.41/gal

+37% 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)

27.0

14.9

+45% in Nashua, NH

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$21.67

$21.34

+2% in Nashua, 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 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 / WA)

None

6.5%

+6.5 pp in WA

Income Tax (top rate)

None

about equal

Nashua vs Seattle — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Nashua or Seattle?: Nashua, NH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,660 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 18% below Seattle, WA's $2,030, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Nashua than in Seattle?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $55,000 a year in Nashua versus $74,000 in Seattle.
Which has lower taxes, Nashua or Seattle?: Nashua 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).