CostIndexUSA

Manchester, NH vs Raleigh, NC Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

NH
Manchester
105.7
overall index
$2,100/mo rent
More AffordableNC
Raleigh
98.2
overall index
$1,650/mo rent

Raleigh is moderately cheaper than Manchester — 7.1% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Manchester, you would need $74,300 in Raleigh. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing22.9%
Manchester
134.2
Raleigh
103.5
🛒 Groceries1.1%
Manchester
97.7
Raleigh
96.6
🚗 Transportation5.3%
Manchester
108.9
Raleigh
103.1
🏥 Healthcare5.3%
Manchester
98.5
Raleigh
93.3
Utilities33.3%
Manchester
133.5
Raleigh
89

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Raleigh, NC
$74,300
$5,700 less needed in Raleigh

Formula: salary × (98.2 ÷ 105.7) = salary × 0.9290. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Manchester, NH

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

Raleigh, NC

Median Home Price
$428,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,650
Housing Index
103.5
Price-to-Rent Ratio
21.6×

Manchester has 22.9% lower housing costs compared to Raleigh.

Income & Job Market

Manchester, NH

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

Raleigh, NC

Median Household Income
$96,100
Per Capita Income
$54,800
Unemployment Rate
3.5%
Population
467,665
Top Industries
TechnologyEducationHealthcareFinanceGovernment

Affordability at a Glance

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

Manchester, NH
4.1×income-to-rent ratio

76% of income left after rent (median)

Raleigh, NC
4.9×income-to-rent ratio

79% 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.