City Comparison

Beaumont vs Manchester

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Beaumont

Texas
78
Very Affordable
$166,000
Median Home
$1,000/mo
Median Rent
$57,000
Median Income

Manchester

New Hampshire
118
Above Average
$350,000
Median Home
$1,600/mo
Median Rent
$65,018
Median Income

The Verdict

33.9%

The cost gap between these cities is 33.9%, with Beaumont being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Beaumont has equivalent purchasing power to $113,462 in Manchester.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
81
Beaumont
140
Manchester
Groceries
96
Beaumont
105
Manchester
Utilities
102
Beaumont
114
Manchester
Transportation
93
Beaumont
100
Manchester
Healthcare
104
Beaumont
112
Manchester

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Beaumont has the same purchasing power as $113,462 in Manchester.

Conversely, $75,000 in Manchester equals $49,576 in Beaumont.

Living in Beaumont vs Manchester

Housing Costs

Beaumont's housing index of 81 is lower Manchester's 140, translating to median home prices of $166,000 vs $350,000. The $184,000 difference in home prices means roughly $11,964 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,000/mo in Beaumont compared to $1,600/mo in Manchester, a monthly difference of $600.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 96 in Beaumont and 105 in Manchester. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $456/month in Beaumont vs $499/month in Manchester. Beaumont offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $516/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 102 in Beaumont and 114 in Manchester. Monthly utility bills average approximately $408 in Beaumont vs $456 in Manchester. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 104 in Beaumont and 112 in Manchester. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $57,000 in Beaumont and $65,018 in Manchester. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $73,077 and $55,100 respectively. Beaumont residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite lower nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,330/month to housing in Beaumont vs $1,517/month in Manchester. In Beaumont, median rent of $1,000/mo fits within this budget. In Manchester, median rent of $1,600/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 59 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Beaumont is 33.9% more affordable overall with an index of 78 vs 118.
A $75,000 salary in Beaumont has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $113,462 in Manchester, based on the cost of living difference.
Beaumont's housing index is 81 with median homes at $166,000, while Manchester's is 140 with median homes at $350,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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