Cost of Living: Garden Grove, CA vs Manchester, NH (2026)

Garden Grove

California
176
VS

Manchester

New Hampshire
106

Garden Grove is 66% more expensive than Manchester.

$1,971/mo ↑ 35%
Median Rent
$1,465/mo ↓ 26%
$90,166/yr ↑ 16%
Median Income
$77,415/yr ↓ 14%
$765,500 ↑ 128%
Home Value
$336,300 ↓ 56%
$2,016/mo ↑ 30%
Owner Costs
$1,548/mo ↓ 23%
170,603
Population
115,415

Tax Comparison

13.3%
Income Tax
0%
7.25%
State Sales Tax
0%
0.71%
Property Tax
1.86%

Affordability

26.2%
rent-to-income
Affordability
22.7%
rent-to-income

Detailed Comparison

When comparing Garden Grove, CA and Manchester, NH, the overall cost of living indices are 176 and 106 respectively (national median = 100). Rent is $506/month cheaper in Manchester, saving renters about $6,072/year.

Median household income is $12,751/year higher in Garden Grove. Home values also differ significantly — the median in Garden Grove is $765,500 compared to $336,300 in Manchester.

New Hampshire has no state income tax, giving Manchester residents a significant tax advantage over California's 13.3% rate.

Frequently Asked Questions

Garden Grove vs Manchester — common questions

Is Garden Grove or Manchester cheaper to live in?
Based on our cost index, Manchester is cheaper to live in with an index of 106 compared to 176 (US average = 100).
What is the rent difference between Garden Grove and Manchester?
Median rent in Garden Grove is $1,971/month and in Manchester it's $1,465/month — a difference of $506/month.
Which city has higher income, Garden Grove or Manchester?
Median household income is $90,166 in Garden Grove and $77,415 in Manchester. Median household income is $12,751/year higher in Garden Grove.
How do taxes compare between California and New Hampshire?
California has 13.3% income tax, 7.25% sales tax, and 0.71% property tax. New Hampshire has 0% income tax, 0% sales tax, and 1.86% property tax.
Should I move to Garden Grove or Manchester?
It depends on your priorities. Garden Grove has a cost index of 176 with median rent of $1,971/mo, while Manchester has a cost index of 106 with rent of $1,465/mo. Consider income potential, tax burden, and lifestyle preferences alongside raw cost data.
View Garden Grove details → View Manchester details →

More Comparisons

Other cost of living comparisons for Garden Grove and Manchester

Garden Grove vs. Clarksville Garden Grove vs. Pembroke Pines Garden Grove vs. Oceanside Garden Grove vs. Lancaster Garden Grove vs. Rancho Cucamonga Garden Grove vs. Fort Collins Manchester vs. Westminster Manchester vs. Richmond Manchester vs. Antioch Manchester vs. High Point Manchester vs. Broken Arrow Manchester vs. League City