Portland, ME vs Manchester, NH: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, Manchester, NH is 3.7% more expensive than Portland, ME (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Portland works out to about $77,800 in Manchester, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is housing, which costs 27.6% more in Manchester. Goods are 0.5% higher and other services 0.5% higher.
- Typical asking rent is $2,165 a month in Manchester and $2,296 in Portland, $1,572 a year less in Manchester (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $517,000 in Manchester and $537,000 in Portland.
- The gap has narrowed since 2019, when Manchester was 6.8% more expensive than Portland.
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: 27.6% higher in Manchester than in Portland
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Portland, ME
- Manchester, NH
All items Portland, ME: 101.9 Manchester, NH: 105.7
Goods Portland, ME: 97.2 Manchester, NH: 97.7
Housing (rents) Portland, ME: 105.2 Manchester, NH: 134.2
Utilities Portland, ME: 134.6 Manchester, NH: 133.5
Other services Portland, ME: 103.2 Manchester, NH: 103.7
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Portland, ME | Manchester, NH | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 101.9 | 105.7 |
| Goods | 97.2 | 97.7 |
| Housing (rents) | 105.2 | 134.2 |
| Utilities | 134.6 | 133.5 |
| Other services | 103.2 | 103.7 |
| Category | Portland | Manchester | Manchester vs Portland |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 101.9 | 105.7 | +3.7% |
| Goods | 97.2 | 97.7 | +0.5% |
| Housing (rents) | 105.2 | 134.2 | +27.6% |
| Utilities | 134.6 | 133.5 | −0.8% |
| Other services | 103.2 | 103.7 | +0.5% |
| Typical asking rent | $2,296 | $2,165 | −5.7% |
| Typical home value | $537,000 | $517,000 | −3.6% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Portland | $75,000 | $77,800 | +3.7% |
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 Portland and Manchester has narrowed since 2008: 6.6 points then, 3.8 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Portland, ME
- Manchester, NH
US average = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Portland, ME | Manchester, NH | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 102.5 | 109.0 |
| 2009 | 103.1 | 104.4 |
| 2010 | 100.9 | 104.4 |
| 2011 | 98.6 | 104.7 |
| 2012 | 101.3 | 104.2 |
| 2013 | 103.0 | 101.9 |
| 2014 | 94.5 | 104.3 |
| 2015 | 99.9 | 105.0 |
| 2016 | 102.3 | 108.0 |
| 2017 | 102.2 | 107.3 |
| 2018 | 101.9 | 103.3 |
| 2019 | 97.6 | 104.2 |
| 2020 | 102.6 | 104.8 |
| 2021 | 101.9 | 102.2 |
| 2022 | 104.8 | 108.2 |
| 2023 | 104.4 | 105.6 |
| 2024 | 101.9 | 105.7 |
Goods
- Portland, ME
- Manchester, NH
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Portland, ME | Manchester, NH | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 100.3 | 97.9 |
| 2009 | 100.7 | 97.2 |
| 2010 | 98.2 | 98.6 |
| 2011 | 98.5 | 100.6 |
| 2012 | 99.2 | 100.9 |
| 2013 | 98.6 | 100.3 |
| 2014 | 98.6 | 103.6 |
| 2015 | 99.6 | 102.3 |
| 2016 | 99.3 | 103.4 |
| 2017 | 100.5 | 103.2 |
| 2018 | 100.9 | 100.7 |
| 2019 | 99.4 | 98.3 |
| 2020 | 99.5 | 98.9 |
| 2021 | 99.2 | 98.1 |
| 2022 | 101.1 | 101.6 |
| 2023 | 98.3 | 98.7 |
| 2024 | 97.2 | 97.7 |
Housing (rents)
- Portland, ME
- Manchester, NH
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Portland, ME | Manchester, NH | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 108.3 | 139.4 |
| 2009 | 111.2 | 120.1 |
| 2010 | 107.3 | 127.7 |
| 2011 | 97.3 | 125.3 |
| 2012 | 113.1 | 132.9 |
| 2013 | 119.1 | 126.2 |
| 2014 | 77.2 | 133.4 |
| 2015 | 97.5 | 129.5 |
| 2016 | 113.0 | 127.2 |
| 2017 | 103.7 | 130.9 |
| 2018 | 110.0 | 118.9 |
| 2019 | 79.4 | 122.5 |
| 2020 | 106.2 | 122.4 |
| 2021 | 107.5 | 114.9 |
| 2022 | 106.8 | 132.6 |
| 2023 | 119.4 | 127.6 |
| 2024 | 105.2 | 134.2 |
Utilities
- Portland, ME
- Manchester, NH
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Portland, ME | Manchester, NH | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 137.7 | 135.6 |
| 2009 | 137.1 | 139.3 |
| 2010 | 125.9 | 124.0 |
| 2011 | 125.1 | 130.9 |
| 2012 | 121.5 | 132.9 |
| 2013 | 118.0 | 122.3 |
| 2014 | 120.9 | 124.0 |
| 2015 | 120.6 | 127.9 |
| 2016 | 122.1 | 137.7 |
| 2017 | 125.0 | 147.7 |
| 2018 | 129.3 | 139.5 |
| 2019 | 131.7 | 141.6 |
| 2020 | 135.0 | 143.2 |
| 2021 | 128.4 | 138.4 |
| 2022 | 137.2 | 146.5 |
| 2023 | 146.5 | 151.6 |
| 2024 | 134.6 | 133.5 |
Other services
- Portland, ME
- Manchester, NH
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Portland, ME | Manchester, NH | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 101.2 | 108.8 |
| 2009 | 101.2 | 104.2 |
| 2010 | 100.0 | 102.4 |
| 2011 | 98.3 | 101.8 |
| 2012 | 98.7 | 99.5 |
| 2013 | 100.8 | 97.0 |
| 2014 | 96.9 | 98.1 |
| 2015 | 100.2 | 100.6 |
| 2016 | 100.8 | 105.7 |
| 2017 | 102.4 | 103.7 |
| 2018 | 99.6 | 100.6 |
| 2019 | 101.5 | 102.5 |
| 2020 | 102.8 | 103.4 |
| 2021 | 101.4 | 101.1 |
| 2022 | 106.1 | 106.0 |
| 2023 | 103.3 | 104.1 |
| 2024 | 103.2 | 103.7 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $2,165 in Manchester vs $2,296 in Portland
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Portland, ME
- Manchester, NH
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Portland, ME | Manchester, NH | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $1,178 | $1,098 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $1,254 | $1,111 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $1,253 | $1,137 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $1,234 | $1,129 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $1,289 | $1,149 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $1,317 | $1,151 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $1,347 | $1,194 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $1,294 | $1,185 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $1,330 | $1,200 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $1,374 | $1,222 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $1,381 | $1,241 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $1,346 | $1,232 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $1,374 | $1,256 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $1,429 | $1,301 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $1,432 | $1,308 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $1,382 | $1,328 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $1,456 | $1,322 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $1,506 | $1,359 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $1,487 | $1,394 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $1,462 | $1,400 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $1,544 | $1,402 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $1,572 | $1,418 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $1,601 | $1,455 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $1,607 | $1,497 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $1,671 | $1,521 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $1,744 | $1,609 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $1,811 | $1,710 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $1,828 | $1,739 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,875 | $1,798 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,958 | $1,838 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $2,001 | $1,856 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,969 | $1,855 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $2,001 | $1,920 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $2,077 | $1,946 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $2,100 | $1,958 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $2,039 | $1,957 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $2,097 | $1,984 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $2,159 | $2,024 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $2,176 | $2,048 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $2,130 | $2,035 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $2,172 | $2,058 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $2,241 | $2,096 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $2,247 | $2,090 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $2,200 | $2,115 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $2,249 | $2,115 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $2,298 | $2,162 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $2,296 | $2,165 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $517,000 in Manchester vs $537,000 in Portland
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Portland, ME
- Manchester, NH
- 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
| Portland, ME | Manchester, NH | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $241K | $231K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $244K | $234K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $249K | $239K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $253K | $244K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $255K | $246K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $260K | $249K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $264K | $251K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $270K | $256K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $275K | $260K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $281K | $266K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $286K | $270K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $290K | $275K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $293K | $278K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $300K | $283K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $306K | $287K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $308K | $289K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $310K | $290K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $313K | $295K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $316K | $299K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $321K | $303K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $328K | $309K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $335K | $315K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $345K | $324K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $365K | $341K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $385K | $358K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $410K | $379K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $423K | $384K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $426K | $383K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $448K | $406K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $477K | $431K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $475K | $431K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $472K | $433K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $477K | $438K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $492K | $448K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $506K | $461K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $512K | $469K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $516K | $476K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $523K | $488K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $525K | $493K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $527K | $499K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $527K | $502K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $528K | $502K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $526K | $506K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $529K | $512K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $533K | $514K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $533K | $513K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $537K | $517K | $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.