Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Manchester, NH Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Manchester, NH

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $4,852 in New York, NY versus $2,871 in Manchester, NH.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $7,370 in New York, NY versus $4,177 in Manchester, NH.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $9,889 in New York, NY versus $5,483 in Manchester, NH.

Living in New York, NY is roughly 69% more expensive than in Manchester, NH, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: New York, NY 252% above, Manchester, NH 108% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.42 $25.42

$26.80 $26.80

-5.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$142 $142

$79.5 $79.5

78.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.97 $13.97

$11.20 $11.20

24.73%

Cappuccino

$6.42 $6.42

$5.46 $5.46

17.58%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.91 $3.91

$2.36 $2.36

65.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 $2.96

$1.94 $1.94

52.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$5.93 $5.93

32.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.86 $9.86

$6.87 $6.87

43.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 $1.33

$1.05 $1.05

26.67%

White Bread (500g)

$4.73 $4.73

$2.86 $2.86

65.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.89 $6.89

$4.80 $4.80

43.54%

Eggs

$5.63 $5.63

$4.72 $4.72

19.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.39 $17.39

$10.11 $10.11

72.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.02 $15.02

$10.91 $10.91

37.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.97 $17.97

$19.82 $19.82

-9.33%

Apples (1kg)

$6.02 $6.02

$5.98 $5.98

0.67%

Banana (1kg)

$2.15 $2.15

$2.42 $2.42

-11.16%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.89 $5.89

$4.45 $4.45

32.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.21 $6.21

$6.10 $6.10

1.80%

Potato (1kg)

$3.40 $3.40

$2.41 $2.41

41.08%

Onion (1kg)

$4.26 $4.26

$3.20 $3.20

33.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.12 $2.12

25.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.41 $2.41

0.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$18.70 $18.70

$10.05 $10.05

86.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.72 $19.72

$15.14 $15.14

30.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.24 $3.24

$1.93 $1.93

67.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.91 $3.91

$5.16 $5.16

-24.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.95 $2.95

$2.04 $2.04

44.61%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$139 $139

$59.5 $59.5

133.37%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.03 $3.03

$3.05 $3.05

-0.66%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.22 $2.22

$1.75 $1.75

26.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.33 $41.33

$29.50 $29.50

40.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.95 $0.95

13.68%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$35.3K $35.3K

$34.0K $34.0K

3.96%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$25.0K $25.0K

$27.4K $27.4K

-8.85%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$236 $236

$230 $230

2.92%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$73.5 $73.5

$60.9 $60.9

20.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.1 $76.1

$69.0 $69.0

10.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$128 $128

$41.54 $41.54

208.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$63.5 $63.5

$40.51 $40.51

56.65%

Cinema Ticket

$23.19 $23.19

$11.29 $11.29

105.40%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$3,340 $3,340

$1,304 $1,304

156.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$59.9K $59.9K

$23.0K $23.0K

160.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$72.8 $72.8

$44.38 $44.38

63.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.1 $54.1

$45.10 $45.10

20.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 $119

$91.2 $91.2

30.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$126 $126

$113 $113

10.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,467 $4,467

$1,689 $1,689

164.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,988 $2,988

$1,400 $1,400

113.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$9,222 $9,222

$2,490 $2,490

270.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,537 $5,537

$2,214 $2,214

150.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.9K $18.9K

$2,938 $2,938

542.55%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,621 $6,621

$2,951 $2,951

124.34%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,327 $5,327

$4,117 $4,117

29.38%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.49

6.09

6.57%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for New York, NY: September 7, 2026

Last update for Manchester, NH: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $4,467 in New York, NY and $1,689 in Manchester, NH. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

New York, NY pays 29% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $142 in New York, NY vs $80.0 in Manchester, NH for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $512 vs $415 per month, with Manchester, NH cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

New York, NY vs Manchester, NH: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Manchester, NH is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 69% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 29% higher in New York, NY, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $4,467 in New York, NY versus $1,689 in Manchester, NH. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $3,340 in New York, NY versus $1,304 in Manchester, NH. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 23% higher in New York, NY. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Manchester, NH is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

For families, Manchester, NH is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in New York, NY, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, New York, NY and Manchester, NH are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Manchester, NH gentler on the wallet – expenses run 69% less than in New York, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.