What is the cost of living in Manchester, NH?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Manchester has an overall cost of living index of 112, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to New Hampshire, Manchester has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than New Hampshire's index of 111.
The standard of living in Manchester ranks as #11 most affordable out of the 25 places we measured in New Hampshire. By definition, that implies Manchester ranks as the #14 most expensive place in the Granite State.
For more reading on life in Manchester, check out:
Manchester Cost Of Living Vs. New Hampshire
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 100.
The Groceries index in Manchester is 107.
The Health index in Manchester is 127.
The Housing index in Manchester is 109.
The Transportation index in Manchester is 107.
The Utilities index in Manchester is 103.
| Living Expense | Manchester | New Hampshire | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 112 | 111 | 100 |
| Services | 100 | 103 | 100 |
| Groceries | 107 | 105 | 100 |
| Health | 127 | 126 | 100 |
| Housing | 109 | 104 | 100 |
| Transportation | 107 | 108 | 100 |
| Utilities | 103 | 102 | 100 |
Manchester Cost Of Living Compared To New Hampshire Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around New Hampshire, check out:
- Most Expensive Cities In New Hampshire
- Most Affordable Cities In New Hampshire
- Average Rent In New Hampshire
Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Manchester, NH Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in New Hampshire, 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 $435,333.
The Median Rent in Manchester is $1,564.
The Median Income in Manchester is $81,007.
The Home Value To Income in Manchester is 5.4x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Manchester is 0.23x.
| Statistic | Manchester | New Hampshire | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $435,333 | $507,347 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,564 | $1,491 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $81,007 | $99,031 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 5.4x | 5.1x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.23x | 0.18x | 0.21x |
Manchester, NH Costs By Category
Detailed Manchester Services costs vs. New Hampshire
| Item | Manchester | New Hampshire |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.25 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $13.07 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $25.44 | $18 |
| Haircut | $26.58 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $67.97 | $45.56 |
Detailed Manchester Groceries costs vs. New Hampshire
| Item | Manchester | New Hampshire |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.47 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.44 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.75 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.01 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $11.66 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $9.82 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.73 | $3.7 |
Detailed Manchester Health costs vs. New Hampshire
| Item | Manchester | New Hampshire |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $115.0 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $164.0 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $136.17 | $113.29 |
Detailed Manchester Transportation costs vs. New Hampshire
| Item | Manchester | New Hampshire |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.33 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $86.0 | $59.92 |
Detailed Manchester Utilities costs vs. New Hampshire
| Item | Manchester | New Hampshire |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $294.4 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $186.72 | $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:
Nashua, NH has a cost of living index of 117, 1.0x Manchester.
Concord, NH has a cost of living index of 110, 1.0x Manchester.
Derry, NH has a cost of living index of 114, 1.0x Manchester.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nashua, NH | 91,294 | 117 | 1.0x |
| Concord, NH | 44,375 | 110 | 1.0x |
| Derry, NH | 21,339 | 114 | 1.0x |
| Londonderry, NH | 12,225 | 126 | 1.1x |
| Milford, NH | 8,956 | 113 | 1.0x |
| Hudson, NH | 7,469 | 112 | 1.0x |
| South Hooksett, NH | 5,902 | 116 | 1.0x |
| Hooksett, NH | 5,876 | 111 | 1.0x |
| East Merrimack, NH | 5,081 | 110 | 1.0x |
