City comparison
Baltimore, MD vs Manchester, NH
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Manchester, NH are 1.1% higher than in Baltimore, MD. Someone earning $100,000 in Baltimore, MD would need about $101,100 in Manchester, NH to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,511 a month in Baltimore, MD and $1,552 in Manchester, NH.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $4,386 a year higher in Baltimore, MD than in Manchester, NH.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −1.0% moving from Baltimore, MD to Manchester, NH ($121,785 → $120,548), while prices change by +1.1%. Net effect of the transfer: −2.1% in real buying power.
- Baltimore, MD: price level 104.5 (pricier)
- 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
| Baltimore, MD | Manchester, NH | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 104.5 | 105.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $101,120 in Manchester | $98,893 in Baltimore |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,511/mo | $1,552/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,794 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,386 (MD) | $0 (NH) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 24% | 24% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $59,070 | $56,530 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA | Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT |
Rent areas: Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD MSA and Manchester, NH HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD and Manchester-Nashua, NH.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Baltimore | Manchester |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 118.2 | 134.2 |
| Goods | 102.4 | 97.7 |
| Utilities | 110.2 | 133.5 |
| Other services | 101.5 | 103.7 |
| Overall | 104.5 | 105.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Baltimore, MD → Manchester, NH
Roughly even
Buying power −1.1%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax −$4,386/yr.
65 Fair offer
Manchester, NH → Baltimore, MD
Roughly even
Buying power +1.1%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax +$4,386/yr.
72 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Baltimore, MD is in the Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA pay area; Manchester, NH is in Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT. The last column shows what a transfer from Baltimore, MD to Manchester, NH at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Baltimore, MD | Manchester, NH | Real change, Baltimore → Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $70,623 | $69,905 | −2.1% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $85,447 | $84,579 | −2.1% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $102,415 | $101,375 | −2.1% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $121,785 | $120,548 | −2.1% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $143,913 | $142,452 | −2.1% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Baltimore, MD | Manchester, NH | Manchester pay in Baltimore dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $76,400 | $73,380 | $72,567 (−5.0%) |
| Software Developers | $138,900 | $162,090 | $160,295 (+15.4%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $85,160 | $83,660 | $82,734 (−2.8%) |
| Registered Nurses | $99,550 | $98,600 | $97,508 (−2.1%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.