Cost of Living in New Hampshire
(Last Updated – July 20,2026)
New Hampshire offers residents close proximity to stunning nature, rich history, and culture. All of the perks of residing in New Hampshire may be why it’s one of the most expensive states to live in.
To better understand the New Hampshire cost of living and how your budget would be affected by a move to the Granite State, keep reading.
What’s the Average Cost of Living in New Hampshire?
Average Cost of Living in New Hampshire: $68,900 per year
If you’re considering relocating to this New England state, the cost of living could affect your monthly budget.
According to MERIC data gathered, New Hampshire has the 39th lowest cost of living in the country. If New Hampshire exceeds your budget, don’t bank on finding an affordable nearby state to move to. All of the states around New Hampshire — Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and New York — are some of the most expensive in the country to live in.
So, what is the cost of living in New Hampshire? According to data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the average total personal consumption cost in New Hampshire comes to $68,900 per year. Here’s where that spending is going, specifically.
|
Category |
Average Annual Per-Capita Cost in New Hampshire |
|
Housing and Utilities |
$12,139 |
|
Health Care |
$10,682 |
|
Food and Beverages (nonrestaurant) |
$5,533 |
|
Gasoline and Energy Goods |
$1,602 |
|
All Other Personal Consumption Expenditures |
$38,944 |
Source: The Bureau of Economic Analysis, Personal Consumption Expenditures by State, 2024
That works out to $5,742 in average monthly expenses for each resident of the White Mountain State.
Housing Costs in New Hampshire
Average Housing Costs in New Hampshire: $1,146 to $2,367 per month
New Hampshire has only 662,160 housing units, according to the latest census estimates. The typical home value in New Hampshire runs about $516,578 in June 2026, Zillow notes.
Here’s what you can expect to spend monthly on housing in New Hampshire, per the most recent census data:
• Median monthly mortgage cost: $2,367
• Median studio rent: $1,146
• Median one-bedroom rent: $1,250
• Median two-bedroom rent: $1,687
• Median three-bedroom rent: $1,930
• Median four-bedroom rent: $2,009
• Median gross rent: $1,491
How much the average home costs depends on where it is, of course. Let’s take a look at the typical home values for major New Hampshire cities, according to Zillow data as of June 2026.
|
New Hampshire City |
Typical Home Price |
|
Manchester |
$444,448 |
|
Concord |
$453,878 |
|
Keene |
$357,069 |
|
Laconia |
$441,500 |
|
Berlin |
$184,822 |
Source: Zillow, June 2026
Utility Costs in New Hampshire
Average Utility Costs in New Hampshire: $424 per month
What should you expect to spend on utilities monthly in New Hampshire? Here’s a breakdown of the average utility spending across major categories.
|
Utility |
Average New Hampshire Bill |
|
Electricity |
$132 |
|
Gas |
$86 |
|
Cable & Satellite |
$117 |
|
Water & Sewer |
$133 |
Source: Doxo Insights 2026 U.S. Household Bill Pay Report
Groceries and Food
Average Grocery and Food Costs in New Hampshire: $461 per person, per month
So you can budget accordingly, here’s a closer look at how much you’d likely spend on food on average in New Hampshire. The Bureau of Economic Analysis puts the average annual food and beverage cost per person at $5,533 or about $461 a month.
The Council for Community and Economic Research ranks the food costs in major American cities. The only major New Hampshire city the council examined was Manchester. This is Manchester’s grocery costs ranking for 2025.
|
New Hampshire City |
Grocery Items Index |
|
Manchester |
99.5 |
Source: The Council for Community and Economic Research – Cost of Living Index, 2025 average
Transportation
Average Transportation Costs in New Hampshire: $9,710 to $18,235 per year
How many people you need to schlep to work, school, and recreational activities will affect how much you spend on transportation each year. To give you a better idea of what your family may spend on transportation in New Hampshire, here’s a breakdown of average spending, according to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Living Wage Calculator for 2026.
|
Family Makeup |
Average Annual Transportation Cost |
|
One adult, no children |
$9,710 |
|
Two working adults, no children |
$11,238 |
|
Two working adults, three children |
$18,235 |
Source: MIT’s Living Wage Calculator, 2026
Health Care
Average Health Care Costs in New Hampshire: $10,682 per person, per year
How much you’d need to budget for health care in New Hampshire depends on medical needs and type of coverage. That said, the average annual per-person cost of health care in New Hampshire is $10,682, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis Personal Consumption Expenditures by State report.
Child Care
Average Child Care Costs in New Hampshire: $839 to $1,150 or more per child, per month
Parents know that child care is a major expense.
Those who meet certain income requirements and are working, searching for work, or participating in a training program might catch a break with child care scholarships.
This is what many parents can expect to spend on child care costs in New Hampshire, per data from CostofChildCare.org.
|
Type of Child Care |
Average Cost Per Month, Per Child |
|
Infant Classroom |
$1,150 |
|
Toddler Classroom |
$943 |
|
Preschooler Classroom |
$839 |
|
Home-Based Family Child Care |
$1,060 |
Source: CostofChildCare.org
Taxes
Tax Rate in New Hampshire: No income tax
New Hampshire recently repealed its taxes on interest and dividend income and has no personal income taxes, says the Tax Foundation’s State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets for 2026. It has a 7.5% corporate income tax rate but no state sales tax, estate tax, or inheritance tax.
In fact, New Hampshire ranks third overall in the Tax Foundation’s 2026 State Tax Competitiveness Index.
Miscellaneous Costs
If personal expenditures in New Hampshire average $38,944 per person each year, some of that could be spent on fun. Here are a few ideas (costs are accurate as of June 2026):
• Learn more about architecture and the work of Frank Lloyd Wright at the Currier Museum of Art in Manchester: General admission is $20 (adults), $15 (students and seniors), $5 (teens 13-17), and free for kids under 12 years old.
• Get the kids’ imagination flowing in the city of Glen at Story Land, where fairytales come to life: Single-day tickets start at $39.99 with certain conditions.
• Grab a fresh apple cider donut and some apples (when they’re in season) right from the orchard at Meadow Ledge Farm in Loudon. A six-pack of donuts is $6.50.
• Interested in seeing some beautiful fall foliage? The Kancamagus Highway from Lincoln to Conway is 34.5 miles of scenery with hiking trails and more to do along the drive. It’s free to drive, but parking at one of the trailheads is $5 per vehicle, per day.
How Much Money Do You Need to Live Comfortably in New Hampshire?
Your family size, lifestyle, and other factors will influence how accessible a comfortable style of living is in New Hampshire, but let’s just say that comfort will come at a price.
New Hampshire ranks 42nd on U.S. News & World Report’s Affordability Rankings, which measures the average cost of living in a given state against the average amount of money that state’s households have.
MERIC’s ranking agrees: It found that New Hampshire has the 39th lowest cost of living (or 14th highest) in the country among the 50 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico.
What City Has the Lowest Cost of Living in New Hampshire?
The Council for Community and Economic Research singled out Manchester as the only New Hampshire city for which they collected cost-of-living data.
Manchester
With a cost-of-living index of 110.4, Manchester is a relatively affordable city. (It’s all relative, right?) Boston, just 52 miles to the south of Manchester, has a composite index score of 148.4, and Burlington in Vermont has a composite score of 113.4.
Even though Manchester is relatively small, with 116,818 residents as of the last census check, the homes here aren’t cheap (see above). It’s full of history, from Native Americans and early European settlers to the Industrial Revolution and beyond.
SoFi Home Loans
New Hampshire is a beautiful state with a lot to offer. If you’re ready to face the New Hampshire cost of living and put down roots, it might be time to shop for a home and a mortgage.
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FAQ
How much money do you need to make to live comfortably in New Hampshire?
A comfortable income in New Hampshire will depend on your family size and lifestyle. The most recent data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis estimates that the average annual cost to live in the state is $68,900.
Is New Hampshire expensive to live in?
New Hampshire is, on average, one of the more expensive states to live in. The most recent MERIC cost-of-living data puts the state at the 14th most expensive state to live in, and U.S. News & World Report’s Affordability Rankings put the state at a similar spot, at 9th.
What are the pros and cons of living in New Hampshire?
While New Hampshire is a state with no personal income tax, state sales tax, or estate and inheritance tax, it does have a high cost of living. It ranks well in public safety, per U.S. News & World Report data, as well as in categories such as the economy (driven by its growing tech industry), education, and natural environment.
Photo credit: iStock/DenisTangneyJr
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