Manchester, CT Cost Of Living

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-24

Cost Of Living In Manchester, CT Summary

Cost of living in Manchester research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Manchester is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.

On a city-by-city basis in Connecticut, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:

  • The cost of living index in Manchester is 105, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Manchester is 1.1x higher than the national average.

  • Manchester ranks as the #11 cheapest in Connecticut out of 56.

  • Manchester ranks as the #3,177 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Manchester is $321,368.

  • The median income in Manchester is $76,780.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
105
Manchester's Overall Cost Of Living
1.1x
Higher Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Manchester, CT?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Manchester has an overall cost of living index of 105, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.

Compared to Connecticut, Manchester has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Connecticut's index of 119.

The standard of living in Manchester ranks as #11 most affordable out of the 56 places we measured in Connecticut. By definition, that implies Manchester ranks as the #45 most expensive place in the Constitution State.

For more reading on life in Manchester, check out:

11 out of 56
In Connecticut
3,177 out of 6,489
In America

Manchester Cost Of Living Vs. Connecticut

Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Manchester. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in Manchester is 109.

  • The Groceries index in Manchester is 102.

  • The Health index in Manchester is 105.

  • The Housing index in Manchester is 99.

  • The Transportation index in Manchester is 95.

  • The Utilities index in Manchester is 128.

Living Expense Manchester Connecticut National Average
Overall 105 119 100
Services 109 109 100
Groceries 102 100 100
Health 105 110 100
Housing 99 137 100
Transportation 95 101 100
Utilities 128 131 100
For more reading on cost of living around Connecticut, check out:
Manchester Cost of Living Vs. CT

Manchester, CT Housing Cost Breakdown

Housing swings affordability the most between places in Connecticut, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2019-2023. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in Manchester is $321,368.

  • The Median Rent in Manchester is $1,357.

  • The Median Income in Manchester is $76,780.

  • The Home Value To Income in Manchester is 4.2x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Manchester is 0.21x.

Statistic Manchester Connecticut United States
Median Home Value $321,368 $430,086 $303,400
Median Rent $1,357 $1,431 $1,348
Median Income $76,780 $93,760 $78,538
Home Value To Income 4.2x 4.6x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.21x 0.18x 0.21x
$321,368
Median Home Value
$1,357
Median Rent
$76,780
Median Income

Manchester, CT Costs By Category

Detailed Manchester Services Costs Vs. Connecticut

Item Manchester Connecticut
Shampoo $1.42 $1.28
Movie $12.85 $12.13
Bowling $18.33 $18
Haircut $33.78 $24.26
Beauty Salon $58.55 $45.56

Detailed Manchester Groceries Costs Vs. Connecticut

Item Manchester Connecticut
Ground Beef $6.23 $5.84
Fried Chicken $1.46 $1.57
Milk $4.73 $4.67
Potatoes $4.96 $4.93
Pizza $10.79 $12.09
Beer $10.49 $10.41
Toothpaste $3.65 $3.7

Detailed Manchester Health Costs Vs. Connecticut

Item Manchester Connecticut
Optometrist $166.22 $125.68
Doctor $182.5 $135.78
Dentist $127.0 $113.29

Detailed Manchester Transportation Costs Vs. Connecticut

Item Manchester Connecticut
Gasoline $3.34 $3.46
Tire Balancing $71.63 $59.92

Detailed Manchester Utilities Costs Vs. Connecticut

Item Manchester Connecticut
All Electricity $302.09 $193.99
Phone $185.16 $192.25

Manchester SnackAbility

7.5
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
7/10
Housing
8
Affordability
7
Diversity
9.5
Safety
6
Amenities
9.5
Education
8
Commute
8

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Manchester

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Manchester. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:

  • Hartford, CT has a cost of living index of 103, 1.0x Manchester.

  • West Hartford, CT has a cost of living index of 124, 1.2x Manchester.

  • East Hartford, CT has a cost of living index of 106, 1.0x Manchester.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Manchester
Hartford, CT 119,970 103 1.0x
West Hartford, CT 63,809 124 1.2x
East Hartford, CT 50,798 106 1.0x
Newington, CT 30,551 114 1.1x
Wethersfield, CT 27,180 113 1.1x
Kensington, CT 9,936 119 1.1x
Southwood Acres, CT 8,154 113 1.1x
Glastonbury Center, CT 7,860 123 1.2x
Rockville, CT 6,657 102 1.0x
Sherwood Manor, CT 5,781 111 1.1x

Articles About Connecticut

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