City comparison
Manchester, NH vs Spokane, WA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Manchester, NH are 5.3% higher than in Spokane, WA. Someone earning $100,000 in Spokane, WA would need about $105,300 in Manchester, NH to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,552 a month in Manchester, NH versus $1,193 in Spokane, WA. On $100,000, that's 24% of take-home pay in Manchester, NH and 18% in Spokane, WA.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $0 a year in NH and $0 in WA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −11.2% moving from Manchester, NH to Spokane, WA ($120,548 → $106,991), while prices change by −5.0%. Net effect of the transfer: −6.5% in real buying power.
- Manchester, NH: price level 105.7 (pricier)
- Spokane, WA: price level 100.3 (about average)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Manchester, NH | Spokane, WA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 105.7 | 100.3 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $94,973 in Spokane | $105,293 in Manchester |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,552/mo | $1,193/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (NH) | $0 (WA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 24% | 18% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $56,530 | $54,660 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT | Spokane-Spokane Valley-Coeur d'Alene, WA-ID |
Rent areas: Manchester, NH HUD Metro FMR Area and Spokane, WA HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Manchester-Nashua, NH and Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Manchester | Spokane |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 134.2 | 97.1 |
| Goods | 97.7 | 105.0 |
| Utilities | 133.5 | 91.2 |
| Other services | 103.7 | 99.5 |
| Overall | 105.7 | 100.3 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Manchester, NH → Spokane, WA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +5.3%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
85 Strong offer
Spokane, WA → Manchester, NH
Same pay buys less
Buying power −5.0%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
53 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Manchester, NH is in the Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT pay area; Spokane, WA is in Spokane-Spokane Valley-Coeur d'Alene, WA-ID. The last column shows what a transfer from Manchester, NH to Spokane, WA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Manchester, NH | Spokane, WA | Real change, Manchester → Spokane |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $69,905 | $62,044 | −6.5% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $84,579 | $75,068 | −6.5% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $101,375 | $89,974 | −6.5% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $120,548 | $106,991 | −6.5% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $142,452 | $126,432 | −6.5% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Manchester, NH | Spokane, WA | Spokane pay in Manchester dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $73,380 | $98,800 | $104,029 (+41.8%) |
| Software Developers | $162,090 | $130,690 | $137,607 (−15.1%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $83,660 | $86,350 | $90,920 (+8.7%) |
| Registered Nurses | $98,600 | $111,750 | $117,665 (+19.3%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.