CostIndexUSA

Houston, TX vs Manchester, NH Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableTX
Houston
98.6
overall index
$1,600/mo rent
NH
Manchester
105.7
overall index
$2,100/mo rent

Houston is moderately cheaper than Manchester — 7.2% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Houston, you would need $85,800 in Manchester. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+28.4%
Houston
104.5
Manchester
134.2
🛒 Groceries2.9%
Houston
100.6
Manchester
97.7
🚗 Transportation+8.5%
Houston
100.4
Manchester
108.9
🏥 Healthcare+8.5%
Houston
90.8
Manchester
98.5
Utilities+40.1%
Houston
95.3
Manchester
133.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Manchester, NH
$85,800
$5,800 more needed in Manchester

Formula: salary × (105.7 ÷ 98.6) = salary × 1.0720. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Houston, TX

Median Home Price
$302,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,600
Housing Index
104.5
Price-to-Rent Ratio
15.7×

Manchester, NH

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

Manchester has 28.4% higher housing costs compared to Houston.

Income & Job Market

Houston, TX

Median Household Income
$79,500
Per Capita Income
$45,300
Unemployment Rate
5.2%
Population
2,304,580
Top Industries
EnergyHealthcareAerospaceManufacturingLogistics

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).

Houston, TX
4.1×income-to-rent ratio

76% 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.