Manchester, NH vs Portland, ME: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, Portland, ME is 3.6% less expensive than Manchester, NH (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Manchester works out to about $72,300 in Portland, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is housing, which costs 21.6% less in Portland. Goods are 0.5% lower and other services 0.5% lower.
- Typical asking rent is $2,296 a month in Portland and $2,165 in Manchester, $1,572 a year more in Portland (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $537,000 in Portland and $517,000 in Manchester.
- The gap has narrowed since 2019, when Portland was 6.3% less expensive than Manchester.
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) and Zillow data. Based on an average household's spending; taxes not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both cities against the US average (100). The gap in each row is what matters for a move.
Housing drives the gap: 21.6% lower in Portland than in Manchester
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Manchester, NH
- Portland, ME
All items Manchester, NH: 105.7 Portland, ME: 101.9
Goods Manchester, NH: 97.7 Portland, ME: 97.2
Housing (rents) Manchester, NH: 134.2 Portland, ME: 105.2
Utilities Manchester, NH: 133.5 Portland, ME: 134.6
Other services Manchester, NH: 103.7 Portland, ME: 103.2
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Manchester, NH | Portland, ME | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 105.7 | 101.9 |
| Goods | 97.7 | 97.2 |
| Housing (rents) | 134.2 | 105.2 |
| Utilities | 133.5 | 134.6 |
| Other services | 103.7 | 103.2 |
| Category | Manchester | Portland | Portland vs Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 105.7 | 101.9 | −3.6% |
| Goods | 97.7 | 97.2 | −0.5% |
| Housing (rents) | 134.2 | 105.2 | −21.6% |
| Utilities | 133.5 | 134.6 | +0.8% |
| Other services | 103.7 | 103.2 | −0.5% |
| Typical asking rent | $2,165 | $2,296 | +6.1% |
| Typical home value | $517,000 | $537,000 | +3.7% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Manchester | $75,000 | $72,300 | −3.6% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent and home values: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Manchester and Portland has narrowed since 2008: 6.6 points then, 3.8 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Manchester, NH
- Portland, ME
US average = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Manchester, NH | Portland, ME | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 109.0 | 102.5 |
| 2009 | 104.4 | 103.1 |
| 2010 | 104.4 | 100.9 |
| 2011 | 104.7 | 98.6 |
| 2012 | 104.2 | 101.3 |
| 2013 | 101.9 | 103.0 |
| 2014 | 104.3 | 94.5 |
| 2015 | 105.0 | 99.9 |
| 2016 | 108.0 | 102.3 |
| 2017 | 107.3 | 102.2 |
| 2018 | 103.3 | 101.9 |
| 2019 | 104.2 | 97.6 |
| 2020 | 104.8 | 102.6 |
| 2021 | 102.2 | 101.9 |
| 2022 | 108.2 | 104.8 |
| 2023 | 105.6 | 104.4 |
| 2024 | 105.7 | 101.9 |
Goods
- Manchester, NH
- Portland, ME
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Manchester, NH | Portland, ME | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 97.9 | 100.3 |
| 2009 | 97.2 | 100.7 |
| 2010 | 98.6 | 98.2 |
| 2011 | 100.6 | 98.5 |
| 2012 | 100.9 | 99.2 |
| 2013 | 100.3 | 98.6 |
| 2014 | 103.6 | 98.6 |
| 2015 | 102.3 | 99.6 |
| 2016 | 103.4 | 99.3 |
| 2017 | 103.2 | 100.5 |
| 2018 | 100.7 | 100.9 |
| 2019 | 98.3 | 99.4 |
| 2020 | 98.9 | 99.5 |
| 2021 | 98.1 | 99.2 |
| 2022 | 101.6 | 101.1 |
| 2023 | 98.7 | 98.3 |
| 2024 | 97.7 | 97.2 |
Housing (rents)
- Manchester, NH
- Portland, ME
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Manchester, NH | Portland, ME | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 139.4 | 108.3 |
| 2009 | 120.1 | 111.2 |
| 2010 | 127.7 | 107.3 |
| 2011 | 125.3 | 97.3 |
| 2012 | 132.9 | 113.1 |
| 2013 | 126.2 | 119.1 |
| 2014 | 133.4 | 77.2 |
| 2015 | 129.5 | 97.5 |
| 2016 | 127.2 | 113.0 |
| 2017 | 130.9 | 103.7 |
| 2018 | 118.9 | 110.0 |
| 2019 | 122.5 | 79.4 |
| 2020 | 122.4 | 106.2 |
| 2021 | 114.9 | 107.5 |
| 2022 | 132.6 | 106.8 |
| 2023 | 127.6 | 119.4 |
| 2024 | 134.2 | 105.2 |
Utilities
- Manchester, NH
- Portland, ME
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Manchester, NH | Portland, ME | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 135.6 | 137.7 |
| 2009 | 139.3 | 137.1 |
| 2010 | 124.0 | 125.9 |
| 2011 | 130.9 | 125.1 |
| 2012 | 132.9 | 121.5 |
| 2013 | 122.3 | 118.0 |
| 2014 | 124.0 | 120.9 |
| 2015 | 127.9 | 120.6 |
| 2016 | 137.7 | 122.1 |
| 2017 | 147.7 | 125.0 |
| 2018 | 139.5 | 129.3 |
| 2019 | 141.6 | 131.7 |
| 2020 | 143.2 | 135.0 |
| 2021 | 138.4 | 128.4 |
| 2022 | 146.5 | 137.2 |
| 2023 | 151.6 | 146.5 |
| 2024 | 133.5 | 134.6 |
Other services
- Manchester, NH
- Portland, ME
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Manchester, NH | Portland, ME | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 108.8 | 101.2 |
| 2009 | 104.2 | 101.2 |
| 2010 | 102.4 | 100.0 |
| 2011 | 101.8 | 98.3 |
| 2012 | 99.5 | 98.7 |
| 2013 | 97.0 | 100.8 |
| 2014 | 98.1 | 96.9 |
| 2015 | 100.6 | 100.2 |
| 2016 | 105.7 | 100.8 |
| 2017 | 103.7 | 102.4 |
| 2018 | 100.6 | 99.6 |
| 2019 | 102.5 | 101.5 |
| 2020 | 103.4 | 102.8 |
| 2021 | 101.1 | 101.4 |
| 2022 | 106.0 | 106.1 |
| 2023 | 104.1 | 103.3 |
| 2024 | 103.7 | 103.2 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $2,296 in Portland vs $2,165 in Manchester
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Manchester, NH
- Portland, ME
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Manchester, NH | Portland, ME | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $1,098 | $1,178 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $1,111 | $1,254 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $1,137 | $1,253 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $1,129 | $1,234 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $1,149 | $1,289 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $1,151 | $1,317 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $1,194 | $1,347 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $1,185 | $1,294 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $1,200 | $1,330 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $1,222 | $1,374 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $1,241 | $1,381 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $1,232 | $1,346 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $1,256 | $1,374 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $1,301 | $1,429 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $1,308 | $1,432 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $1,328 | $1,382 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $1,322 | $1,456 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $1,359 | $1,506 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $1,394 | $1,487 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $1,400 | $1,462 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $1,402 | $1,544 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $1,418 | $1,572 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $1,455 | $1,601 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $1,497 | $1,607 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $1,521 | $1,671 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $1,609 | $1,744 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $1,710 | $1,811 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $1,739 | $1,828 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,798 | $1,875 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,838 | $1,958 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,856 | $2,001 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,855 | $1,969 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,920 | $2,001 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,946 | $2,077 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,958 | $2,100 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,957 | $2,039 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,984 | $2,097 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $2,024 | $2,159 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $2,048 | $2,176 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $2,035 | $2,130 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $2,058 | $2,172 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $2,096 | $2,241 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $2,090 | $2,247 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $2,115 | $2,200 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $2,115 | $2,249 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $2,162 | $2,298 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $2,165 | $2,296 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $537,000 in Portland vs $517,000 in Manchester
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Manchester, NH
- Portland, ME
- United States
Source: Zillow Home Value Index (typical home value, middle tier, smoothed, seasonally adjusted), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Manchester, NH | Portland, ME | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $231K | $241K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $234K | $244K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $239K | $249K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $244K | $253K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $246K | $255K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $249K | $260K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $251K | $264K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $256K | $270K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $260K | $275K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $266K | $281K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $270K | $286K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $275K | $290K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $278K | $293K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $283K | $300K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $287K | $306K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $289K | $308K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $290K | $310K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $295K | $313K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $299K | $316K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $303K | $321K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $309K | $328K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $315K | $335K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $324K | $345K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $341K | $365K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $358K | $385K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $379K | $410K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $384K | $423K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $383K | $426K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $406K | $448K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $431K | $477K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $431K | $475K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $433K | $472K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $438K | $477K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $448K | $492K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $461K | $506K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $469K | $512K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $476K | $516K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $488K | $523K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $493K | $525K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $499K | $527K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $502K | $527K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $502K | $528K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $506K | $526K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $512K | $529K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $514K | $533K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $513K | $533K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $517K | $537K | $366K |
More about each city
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State and local income, sales and property taxes can change the result a lot, especially between states.
- Neighborhoods. These are metro-wide averages; a city center and its outer suburbs can differ by more than two metros do.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider above if rent is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels are for 2024; Zillow figures are monthly and newer.