Cost of Living in Manchester, NH
Updated November 2026 · Hillsborough County · Manchester-Nashua, NH metro area · population 115,643
Prices in Manchester are 6.5% above the US average (local index 106.5; the BEA index for the Manchester-Nashua, NH metro area is 105.7), with utilities the biggest cost driver at 133.5; a single adult's modelled budget is about $2,915 a month and the median rent is $1,564.
Prices by category
CostLiving local estimate. 100 = US average; 110 means prices are 10% higher. Housing reflects Manchester's own median rent compared with the area's average rent; goods, utilities and other services are BEA's official price parities for the Manchester-Nashua, NH metro area, unchanged.
Manchester price index by category, US average = 100: All items 106.5, Housing (rents) 129.7, Goods 97.7, Utilities 133.5, Other services 103.7
More expensive than 65% of the cities we cover.
| BEA index | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 104.2 | 104.8 | 102.2 | 108.2 | 105.6 | 105.7 |
Monthly budget by household type
1 adult · 1-bedroom · modelled estimate for Manchester, NH
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $1,118 | $13,416 | 38% |
| Utilities | $331 | $3,972 | 11% |
| Food at home | $276 | $3,312 | 9% |
| Transportation | $660 | $7,920 | 23% |
| Health care | $364 | $4,368 | 12% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $166 | $1,992 | 6% |
| Total | $2,915 | $34,980 | 100% |
2 adults · 2-bedroom · modelled estimate for Manchester, NH
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $1,481 | $17,772 | 31% |
| Utilities | $528 | $6,336 | 11% |
| Food at home | $509 | $6,108 | 11% |
| Transportation | $1,307 | $15,684 | 27% |
| Health care | $675 | $8,100 | 14% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $327 | $3,924 | 7% |
| Total | $4,827 | $57,924 | 100% |
2 adults + 2 children · 3-bedroom · modelled estimate for Manchester, NH
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $1,538 | $18,456 | 27% |
| Utilities | $642 | $7,704 | 11% |
| Food at home | $725 | $8,700 | 13% |
| Transportation | $1,736 | $20,832 | 31% |
| Health care | $629 | $7,548 | 11% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $421 | $5,052 | 7% |
| Total | $5,691 | $68,292 | 100% |
Modelled estimate of basic costs, excluding taxes, child care and savings. Housing is rent excluding tenant-paid utilities (counted under utilities). See how the budget is calculated.
Housing costs in Manchester
Rent by number of bedrooms
| Size | Median rent |
|---|---|
| Studio | $925 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,267 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,678 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,743 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,912 |
Median rent: Census ACS 2020-2024 median gross rent by bedrooms (rent plus tenant-paid utilities, all renters).
Rent, home values and affordability
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,564 |
| Median contract rent (excl. utilities) | $1,380 |
| Median home value | $365,600 |
| Owner costs with a mortgage | $2,227/mo |
| Median household income | $81,007 |
| Rent as % of renter income Expensive | 30.0% |
| Home value ÷ household income Moderate | 4.5× |
Census ACS 5-year 2020-2024.
Electricity and gas prices
Residential electricity in New Hampshire
27.64¢ per kWh, August 2026
12-month change: +13.1% (from 24.44¢) · US 18.16¢
Average household uses 643 kWh a month in New Hampshire ≈ $173/month. Source: EIA-861M (statewide average).
Regular gasoline regional figure: New England (PADD 1A)
$4.14 per gallon, week of 2026-11-02
12-month change: +41.4% (from $2.93) · US $4.15
EIA weekly retail price survey; New Hampshire is covered by the New England (PADD 1A) average.
Inflation in the Northeast
Consumer prices in the Northeast Census region rose +4.2% in the 12 months to September 2026 (US +3.7%). Nationally, food at home changed +1.8%, shelter +3.2% and energy +20.4%. Source: BLS CPI-U, not seasonally adjusted. CPI is published for regions and large metro areas, so the regional figure is shown.
Salary equivalent
Because prices in Manchester are 6.5% above the US average, $60,000 here has the buying power of about $56,400 in an average-priced US area.
Formula: US-equivalent = salary × 100 ÷ 106.5. Based on the local cost index (CostLiving estimate from BEA RPP and Census rents); taxes not included.
Nearby cities
| City | Distance | Index | Budget (single) | Median rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nashua, NH | 16 mi | 109.1 | $3,133 | $1,737 |
| Methuen, MA | 21 mi | 106.6 | $2,750 | $1,749 |
| Haverhill, MA | 23 mi | 105.5 | $3,027 | $1,668 |
| Lawrence, MA | 24 mi | 105.4 | $2,798 | $1,662 |
| Lowell, MA | 25 mi | 104.9 | $2,995 | $1,625 |
| Leominster, MA | 36 mi | 101.3 | $2,781 | $1,354 |
Cities with a similar cost of living
| City | Index | Budget (single) | Median rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Methuen, MA | 106.6 | $2,750 | $1,749 |
| Longmont, CO | 106.6 | $3,153 | $1,816 |
| Riverview, FL | 106.3 | $3,149 | $2,002 |
| Grapevine, TX | 106.3 | $3,271 | $1,863 |
| Port Orchard, WA | 106.3 | $3,383 | $1,797 |
| Citrus Heights, CA | 106.7 | $3,393 | $1,827 |
Compare Manchester with another city
Frequently asked questions
Is Manchester, NH an expensive place to live?
Manchester has a local cost of living index of 106.5, which is 6.5% above the US average. This CostLiving estimate starts from the BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 for the Manchester-Nashua, NH metro area (105.7) and adjusts housing to Manchester's own rents. It is 2.3 points above the New Hampshire average. More expensive than 65% of the cities we cover.
How much money do you need to live in Manchester?
Our modelled estimate of basic monthly costs is $2,915 for a single adult, $4,827 for a couple and $5,691 for a family of four, before taxes, child care and savings. A $60,000 salary in an average-priced US area buys about the same as $63,900 in Manchester.
What is the average rent in Manchester?
The median gross rent (rent plus tenant-paid utilities) is $1,564 a month (Census ACS 2020-2024). By size: 1 bedroom $1,267, 2 bedrooms $1,678, 3 bedrooms $1,743. The typical renter spends 30.0% of household income on rent (expensive).
How much does a house cost in Manchester?
The median owner-estimated home value is $365,600, 4.5 times the median household income of $81,007 (moderate). Owners with a mortgage pay a median $2,227 a month in housing costs.
How much is electricity and gas in Manchester?
New Hampshire residential electricity averaged 27.64¢ per kWh in August 2026 (US 18.16¢). Regular gasoline was $4.14 a gallon (New England (PADD 1A) average, week of 2026-11-02).
Sources and notes
- Local cost index: CostLiving estimate from BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 for the Manchester-Nashua, NH metropolitan statistical area (BEA index 105.7) with housing from Census ACS median rent (city figure); see the methodology.
- Rents, home values, income, population: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year 2020-2024, Census place 3345140 (Manchester city).
- Electricity: EIA-861M, New Hampshire residential average, August 2026.
- Gasoline: EIA weekly retail regular gasoline, New England (PADD 1A), week of 2026-11-02.
- Inflation: BLS CPI-U Northeast region, September 2026.
- Budget baselines: BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey 2025; electricity use by household size: EIA RECS 2020.
- Gasoline price: regional figure (EIA publishes weekly prices for only 9 states).
Labels such as “county figure” or “state nonmetro figure” mark values that come from a larger area because the city-level figure is unavailable or unreliable. The monthly budget is a modelled estimate, not observed spending, and excludes taxes. This page is for general information and is not financial advice. Methodology · All sources