CostIndexUSA

Bellingham, WA vs Manchester, NH Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableWA
Bellingham
103.3
overall index
$1,875/mo rent
NH
Manchester
105.7
overall index
$2,100/mo rent

Bellingham is slightly cheaper than Manchester — 2.3% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Bellingham, you would need $81,900 in Manchester. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing+18.9%
Bellingham
112.9
Manchester
134.2
🛒 Groceries7.0%
Bellingham
105
Manchester
97.7
🚗 Transportation+4.3%
Bellingham
104.4
Manchester
108.9
🏥 Healthcare+4.2%
Bellingham
94.5
Manchester
98.5
Utilities+33.6%
Bellingham
99.9
Manchester
133.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Bellingham to see what you'd need to earn in Manchester to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Manchester, NH
$81,900
$1,900 more needed in Manchester

Formula: salary × (105.7 ÷ 103.3) = salary × 1.0232. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Bellingham, WA

Median Home Price
$598,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,875
Housing Index
112.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
26.6×

Manchester, NH

Median Home Price
$503,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,100
Housing Index
134.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
20.0×

Manchester has 18.9% higher housing costs compared to Bellingham.

Income & Job Market

Bellingham, WA

Median Household Income
$74,900
Per Capita Income
$42,700
Unemployment Rate
4.2%
Population
92,314
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareTechnologyManufacturingTourism

Manchester, NH

Median Household Income
$103,700
Per Capita Income
$59,100
Unemployment Rate
2.1%
Population
115,644
Top Industries
HealthcareFinanceTechnologyManufacturingRetail

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Bellingham, WA
3.3×income-to-rent ratio

70% of income left after rent (median)

Manchester, NH
4.1×income-to-rent ratio

76% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.