CostIndexUSA

Manchester, NH vs Monroe, LA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

NH
Manchester
105.7
overall index
$2,100/mo rent
More AffordableLA
Monroe
83.6
overall index
$1,100/mo rent

Monroe is significantly cheaper than Manchester — 20.9% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Manchester, you would need $63,300 in Monroe. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing−68.1%
Manchester
134.2
Monroe
42.8
🛒 Groceries−4.1%
Manchester
97.7
Monroe
93.7
🚗 Transportation−7.7%
Manchester
108.9
Monroe
100.5
🏥 Healthcare−7.7%
Manchester
98.5
Monroe
90.9
⚡ Utilities−45.9%
Manchester
133.5
Monroe
72.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
→
Equivalent salary in Monroe, LA
$63,300
$16,700 less needed in Monroe

Formula: salary × (83.6 ÷ 105.7) = salary × 0.7909. 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×

Monroe, LA

Median Home Price
$157,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,100
Housing Index
42.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
11.9×

Manchester has 68.1% lower housing costs compared to Monroe.

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

Monroe, LA

Median Household Income
$50,300
Per Capita Income
$28,700
Unemployment Rate
7.3%
Population
47,252
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationManufacturingGovernmentRetail

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)

Monroe, LA
3.8×income-to-rent ratio

74% of income left after rent (median)

Manchester vs other cities

Manchester, NH
vs
Wilmington, NC
Index: 105.7Index: 96.4
Manchester, NH
vs
Provo, UT
Index: 105.7Index: 98.2
Manchester, NH
vs
Waterbury, CT
Index: 105.7Index: 99.8
Manchester, NH
vs
Springfield, IL
Index: 105.7Index: 92.7
Manchester, NH
vs
Billings, MT
Index: 105.7Index: 93.5

Monroe vs other cities

Monroe, LA
vs
Baton Rouge, LA
Index: 83.6Index: 90.8
Monroe, LA
vs
Lafayette, LA
Index: 83.6Index: 87.2
Monroe, LA
vs
Lake Charles, LA
Index: 83.6Index: 85.9
Monroe, LA
vs
Charleston, WV
Index: 83.6Index: 88.7
Monroe, LA
vs
San Luis Obispo, CA
Index: 83.6Index: 108.6

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.