Cost of Living: Santa Rosa, CA vs Manchester, NH (2026)

Santa Rosa

California
172
VS

Manchester

New Hampshire
106

Santa Rosa is 62% more expensive than Manchester.

$2,084/mo ↑ 42%
Median Rent
$1,465/mo ↓ 30%
$97,410/yr ↑ 26%
Median Income
$77,415/yr ↓ 21%
$685,000 ↑ 104%
Home Value
$336,300 ↓ 51%
$2,130/mo ↑ 38%
Owner Costs
$1,548/mo ↓ 27%
177,216
Population
115,415

Tax Comparison

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

Affordability

25.7%
rent-to-income
Affordability
22.7%
rent-to-income

Detailed Comparison

When comparing Santa Rosa, CA and Manchester, NH, the overall cost of living indices are 172 and 106 respectively (national median = 100). Rent is $619/month cheaper in Manchester, saving renters about $7,428/year.

Median household income is $19,995/year higher in Santa Rosa. Home values also differ significantly — the median in Santa Rosa is $685,000 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

Santa Rosa vs Manchester — common questions

Is Santa Rosa or Manchester cheaper to live in?
Based on our cost index, Manchester is cheaper to live in with an index of 106 compared to 172 (US average = 100).
What is the rent difference between Santa Rosa and Manchester?
Median rent in Santa Rosa is $2,084/month and in Manchester it's $1,465/month — a difference of $619/month.
Which city has higher income, Santa Rosa or Manchester?
Median household income is $97,410 in Santa Rosa and $77,415 in Manchester. Median household income is $19,995/year higher in Santa Rosa.
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 Santa Rosa or Manchester?
It depends on your priorities. Santa Rosa has a cost index of 172 with median rent of $2,084/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 Santa Rosa details → View Manchester details →

More Comparisons

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