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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Nobody expects rock-bottom prices in New Hampshire — but that doesn't mean all cities are equally expensive. Manchester (index 111, rent $1,976/mo) carves out real savings within a high-cost market. We analyzed 1 cities to find where your money goes furthest in 2026 (that's pre-tax, of course).
Nobody expects rock-bottom prices in New Hampshire — but that doesn't mean all cities are equally expensive. Manchester (index 111, rent $1,976/mo) carves out real savings within a high-cost market. We analyzed 1 cities to find where your money goes furthest in 2026 (that's pre-tax, of course).
Dive into Manchester's numbers: cost index 111 — which, honestly, is lower than you'd expect here — (1 points below national average), rent $1,976/month, income $77,415, and a home price of $427,321. The city's cost profile isn't flat — Utilities is the cheapest category at 102, while Housing runs 128. With 115,474 residents, it balances mid-size city convenience with manageable costs.
That said, Across New Hampshire, the average cost of living index is 111 — 1 points below the national median. Known for no income tax in a traditionally expensive region, the state offers 1 tracked cities with median rents averaging $1,976/month. That's $81 more than the national average of $1,895. For anyone relocating from a high-cost market, this will feel like a raise.
Bottom line: Manchester leads this ranking for clear, data-backed reasons — but the "best" city depends on your priorities. Click into any city below to see the full detail page with 12-month trend charts, profession-specific salary data, and a breakdown of all five cost categories. If you're seriously considering a move, use our salary calculator to model your specific income against these numbers.
#1 Ranked: Manchester — cost index 111, rent $1,976/mo, income $77,415
0 of 1 cities keep rent under 30% of $40K gross income
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
| Rank | City | Median Rent | Rent % of Gross | Cost Index | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manchester | $1,976 | 59% | 111 | Details |
115,474 residents · New Hampshire
What does daily life actually cost in Manchester? Start with the 31% rent-to-income ratio — stretched, especially for single earners. On the category level, Utilities (index 102) is where the real savings show up, while Housing (index 128) is the line item most likely to surprise newcomers. Income at $77,415 and homes at $427,321 round out a profile that ranks #1 for clear reasons.
| City | State Tax | Sales Tax | Property Tax | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1Manchester | 0% | 0% | 1.57% | $32,372 |
Manchester ranks #1 in New Hampshire for this analysis with a cost index of 111 and median income of $77,415.
Yes. On a $40K salary in Manchester, rent would consume about 59% of your gross monthly income. Financial experts recommend keeping rent under 30%. It's tight — consider a roommate or nearby suburb.
Our cost of living index uses real Zillow rent data as the foundation, indexed to 100 (national median). Sub-categories (housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare) are derived from the overall index with regional adjustments. Data is updated monthly.
City data is refreshed monthly from Census Bureau population estimates, Zillow rent and home price indices, BLS salary data, and Tax Foundation tax rates. Last updated: 2026.
The median 1-bedroom rent in Manchester is $1,976/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $81 above the national median of $1,895/month.
After federal taxes, FICA (7.65%), and 0% state income tax, estimated take-home on $40K in Manchester is approximately $32,372/year ($2,698/month). After median rent of $1,976/month, you'd have roughly $8,660/year for all other expenses.
The median home price in Manchester is $427,321, which is 5.5× the local median income. Most median-income households would stretch to buy at this ratio. The national median home price is $467,370.
New Hampshire has a 0% state income tax rate — one of the states with no income tax. Combined state and local sales tax averages 0%, and the effective property tax rate is 1.57%.
This ranking was generated using data current as of early 2026. Population and income data comes from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (5-year estimates). Rent and home price data is from Zillow's monthly releases. Tax rates are from the Tax Foundation's 2025 edition. Rankings are refreshed monthly.