City comparison
Manchester, NH vs Sacramento, CA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Manchester, NH (105.7) and Sacramento, CA (106.7, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Manchester, NH goes as far as $101,000 in Sacramento, CA.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,832 a month in Sacramento, CA versus $1,552 in Manchester, NH. On $100,000, that's 30% of take-home pay in Sacramento, CA and 24% in Manchester, NH.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $5,070 a year higher in Sacramento, CA than in Manchester, NH.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −2.1% moving from Manchester, NH to Sacramento, CA ($120,548 → $117,984), while prices change by +1.0%. Net effect of the transfer: −3.1% in real buying power.
- Manchester, NH: price level 105.7 (pricier)
- Sacramento, CA: price level 106.7 (pricier)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Manchester, NH | Sacramento, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 105.7 | 106.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $100,959 in Sacramento | $99,050 in Manchester |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,552/mo | $1,832/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $74,110 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (NH) | $5,070 (CA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 24% | 30% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $56,530 | $59,750 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT | Sacramento-Roseville, CA-NV |
Rent areas: Manchester, NH HUD Metro FMR Area and Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Manchester-Nashua, NH and Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Manchester | Sacramento |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 134.2 | 130.2 |
| Goods | 97.7 | 105.2 |
| Utilities | 133.5 | 151.3 |
| Other services | 103.7 | 100.3 |
| Overall | 105.7 | 106.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Manchester, NH → Sacramento, CA
Roughly even
Buying power −0.9%; rent takes 30% of take-home; state tax +$5,070/yr.
59 Fair offer
Sacramento, CA → Manchester, NH
Roughly even
Buying power +1.0%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax −$5,070/yr.
72 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Manchester, NH is in the Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT pay area; Sacramento, CA is in Sacramento-Roseville, CA-NV. The last column shows what a transfer from Manchester, NH to Sacramento, CA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Manchester, NH | Sacramento, CA | Real change, Manchester → Sacramento |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $69,905 | $68,419 | −3.1% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $84,579 | $82,780 | −3.1% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $101,375 | $99,218 | −3.1% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $120,548 | $117,984 | −3.1% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $142,452 | $139,422 | −3.1% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Manchester, NH | Sacramento, CA | Sacramento pay in Manchester dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $73,380 | $103,390 | $102,408 (+39.6%) |
| Software Developers | $162,090 | $139,640 | $138,314 (−14.7%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $83,660 | $92,110 | $91,235 (+9.1%) |
| Registered Nurses | $98,600 | $171,460 | $169,832 (+72.2%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.