City comparison
Anchorage, AK vs Manchester, NH
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Anchorage, AK (105.4) and Manchester, NH (105.7, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Anchorage, AK goes as far as $100,200 in Manchester, NH.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,552 a month in Manchester, NH versus $1,243 in Anchorage, AK. On $100,000, that's 24% of take-home pay in Manchester, NH and 19% in Anchorage, AK.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $0 a year in AK and $0 in NH.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +0.2% moving from Anchorage, AK to Manchester, NH ($120,348 → $120,548), while prices change by +0.2%. Net effect of the transfer: −0.1% in real buying power.
- Anchorage, AK: price level 105.4 (pricier)
- Manchester, NH: price level 105.7 (pricier)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Anchorage, AK | Manchester, NH | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 105.4 | 105.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $100,225 in Manchester | $99,776 in Anchorage |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,243/mo | $1,552/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (AK) | $0 (NH) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 19% | 24% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $60,200 | $56,530 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | State of Alaska | Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT |
Rent areas: Anchorage, AK HUD Metro FMR Area and Manchester, NH HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Anchorage, AK and Manchester-Nashua, NH.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Anchorage | Manchester |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 109.9 | 134.2 |
| Goods | 107.3 | 97.7 |
| Utilities | 111.8 | 133.5 |
| Other services | 103.3 | 103.7 |
| Overall | 105.4 | 105.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Anchorage, AK → Manchester, NH
Roughly even
Buying power −0.2%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
68 Fair offer
Manchester, NH → Anchorage, AK
Roughly even
Buying power +0.2%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
69 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Anchorage, AK is in the State of Alaska pay area; Manchester, NH is in Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT. The last column shows what a transfer from Anchorage, AK to Manchester, NH at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Anchorage, AK | Manchester, NH | Real change, Anchorage → Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $69,789 | $69,905 | −0.1% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $84,439 | $84,579 | −0.1% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $101,206 | $101,375 | −0.1% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $120,348 | $120,548 | −0.1% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $142,216 | $142,452 | −0.1% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Anchorage, AK | Manchester, NH | Manchester pay in Anchorage dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $79,270 | $73,380 | $73,215 (−7.6%) |
| Software Developers | $104,030 | $162,090 | $161,726 (+55.5%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $82,150 | $83,660 | $83,472 (+1.6%) |
| Registered Nurses | $115,290 | $98,600 | $98,379 (−14.7%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.