City comparison
Austin, TX vs Manchester, NH
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Manchester, NH are 7.7% higher than in Austin, TX. Someone earning $100,000 in Austin, TX would need about $107,700 in Manchester, NH to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,562 a month in Austin, TX and $1,552 in Manchester, NH.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $0 a year in TX and $0 in NH.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +10.2% moving from Austin, TX to Manchester, NH ($109,428 → $120,548), while prices change by +7.7%. Net effect of the transfer: +2.2% in real buying power.
- Austin, TX: price level 98.1 (about average)
- Manchester, NH: price level 105.7 (pricier)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Austin, TX | Manchester, NH | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 98.1 | 105.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $107,741 in Manchester | $92,815 in Austin |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,562/mo | $1,552/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (TX) | $0 (NH) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 24% | 24% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $56,950 | $56,530 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX | Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT |
Rent areas: Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX MSA and Manchester, NH HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX and Manchester-Nashua, NH.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Austin | Manchester |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 120.4 | 134.2 |
| Goods | 93.8 | 97.7 |
| Utilities | 82.0 | 133.5 |
| Other services | 96.2 | 103.7 |
| Overall | 98.1 | 105.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Austin, TX → Manchester, NH
Same pay buys less
Buying power −7.2%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
46 Fair offer
Manchester, NH → Austin, TX
Same pay goes further
Buying power +7.7%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
93 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Austin, TX is in the Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX pay area; Manchester, NH is in Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT. The last column shows what a transfer from Austin, TX to Manchester, NH at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Austin, TX | Manchester, NH | Real change, Austin → Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $63,457 | $69,905 | +2.2% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $76,777 | $84,579 | +2.2% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $92,023 | $101,375 | +2.2% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $109,428 | $120,548 | +2.2% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $129,311 | $142,452 | +2.2% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Austin, TX | Manchester, NH | Manchester pay in Austin dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,270 | $73,380 | $68,108 (+11.2%) |
| Software Developers | $134,120 | $162,090 | $150,445 (+12.2%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $83,120 | $83,660 | $77,649 (−6.6%) |
| Registered Nurses | $97,890 | $98,600 | $91,516 (−6.5%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.