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 104, which is 1.0x 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 116.
The standard of living in Manchester ranks as #7 most affordable out of the 55 places we measured in Connecticut. By definition, that implies Manchester ranks as the #48 most expensive place in the Constitution State.
For more reading on life in Manchester, check out:
Manchester Cost Of Living Vs. Connecticut
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Manchester. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Manchester is 105.
The Groceries index in Manchester is 111.
The Health index in Manchester is 99.
The Housing index in Manchester is 108.
The Transportation index in Manchester is 107.
The Utilities index in Manchester is 104.
| Living Expense | Manchester | Connecticut | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 104 | 116 | 100 |
| Services | 105 | 107 | 100 |
| Groceries | 111 | 111 | 100 |
| Health | 99 | 137 | 100 |
| Housing | 108 | 108 | 100 |
| Transportation | 107 | 110 | 100 |
| Utilities | 104 | 111 | 100 |
Manchester Cost Of Living Compared To Connecticut Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Connecticut, check out:
- Most Expensive Cities In Connecticut
- Most Affordable Cities In Connecticut
- Average Rent In Connecticut
Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
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 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Manchester is $323,532.
The Median Rent in Manchester is $1,384.
The Median Income in Manchester is $74,267.
The Home Value To Income in Manchester is 4.4x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Manchester is 0.22x.
| Statistic | Manchester | Connecticut | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $323,532 | $436,407 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,384 | $1,488 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $74,267 | $95,781 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.4x | 4.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.22x | 0.19x | 0.21x |
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
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 104, 1.0x Manchester.
West Hartford, CT has a cost of living index of 127, 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 | 121,127 | 104 | 1.0x |
| West Hartford, CT | 63,620 | 127 | 1.2x |
| East Hartford, CT | 50,918 | 106 | 1.0x |
| Newington, CT | 30,896 | 110 | 1.1x |
| Wethersfield, CT | 27,250 | 114 | 1.1x |
| Kensington, CT | 9,962 | 117 | 1.1x |
| Southwood Acres, CT | 8,115 | 119 | 1.1x |
| Glastonbury Center, CT | 7,266 | 121 | 1.2x |
| Rockville, CT | 7,072 | 102 | 1.0x |
| Sherwood Manor, CT | 5,706 | 119 | 1.1x |
