City comparison
Charleston, SC vs Manchester, NH
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Manchester, NH are 4.7% higher than in Charleston, SC. Someone earning $100,000 in Charleston, SC would need about $104,700 in Manchester, NH to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,630 a month in Charleston, SC and $1,552 in Manchester, NH.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $4,843 a year higher in Charleston, SC than in Manchester, NH.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +13.3% moving from Charleston, SC to Manchester, NH ($106,437 → $120,548), while prices change by +4.7%. Net effect of the transfer: +8.2% in real buying power.
- Charleston, SC: price level 101.0 (about average)
- 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
| Charleston, SC | Manchester, NH | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 101.0 | 105.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $104,650 in Manchester | $95,556 in Charleston |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,630/mo | $1,552/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,337 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,843 (SC) | $0 (NH) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 26% | 24% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,150 | $56,530 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT |
Rent areas: Charleston-North Charleston, SC MSA and Manchester, NH HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Charleston-North Charleston, SC and Manchester-Nashua, NH.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Charleston | Manchester |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 119.8 | 134.2 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 97.7 |
| Utilities | 88.2 | 133.5 |
| Other services | 98.3 | 103.7 |
| Overall | 101.0 | 105.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Charleston, SC → Manchester, NH
Same pay buys less
Buying power −4.4%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax −$4,843/yr.
55 Fair offer
Manchester, NH → Charleston, SC
Same pay goes further
Buying power +4.7%; rent takes 26% of take-home; state tax +$4,843/yr.
81 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Charleston, SC is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Manchester, NH is in Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT. The last column shows what a transfer from Charleston, SC to Manchester, NH at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Charleston, SC | Manchester, NH | Real change, Charleston → Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $69,905 | +8.2% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $84,579 | +8.2% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $101,375 | +8.2% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $120,548 | +8.2% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $142,452 | +8.2% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Charleston, SC | Manchester, NH | Manchester pay in Charleston dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,020 | $73,380 | $70,119 (+14.9%) |
| Software Developers | $132,150 | $162,090 | $154,887 (+17.2%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,350 | $83,660 | $79,942 (+0.7%) |
| Registered Nurses | $92,800 | $98,600 | $94,219 (+1.5%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.