City comparison
Eugene, OR vs Manchester, NH
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Manchester, NH are 4.0% higher than in Eugene, OR. Someone earning $100,000 in Eugene, OR would need about $104,000 in Manchester, NH to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,552 a month in Manchester, NH versus $1,286 in Eugene, OR. On $100,000, that's 24% of take-home pay in Manchester, NH and 22% in Eugene, OR.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $7,920 a year higher in Eugene, OR than in Manchester, NH.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +13.3% moving from Eugene, OR to Manchester, NH ($106,437 → $120,548), while prices change by +4.0%. Net effect of the transfer: +8.9% in real buying power.
- Eugene, OR: price level 101.6 (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
| Eugene, OR | Manchester, NH | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 101.6 | 105.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $104,026 in Manchester | $96,130 in Eugene |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,286/mo | $1,552/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $71,260 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $7,920 (OR) | $0 (NH) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 22% | 24% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,680 | $56,530 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT |
Rent areas: Eugene-Springfield, OR MSA and Manchester, NH HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Eugene-Springfield, OR and Manchester-Nashua, NH.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Eugene | Manchester |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 98.3 | 134.2 |
| Goods | 105.3 | 97.7 |
| Utilities | 102.5 | 133.5 |
| Other services | 100.3 | 103.7 |
| Overall | 101.6 | 105.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Eugene, OR → Manchester, NH
Same pay buys less
Buying power −3.9%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax −$7,920/yr.
57 Fair offer
Manchester, NH → Eugene, OR
Same pay goes further
Buying power +4.0%; rent takes 22% of take-home; state tax +$7,920/yr.
81 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Eugene, OR 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 Eugene, OR to Manchester, NH at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Eugene, OR | Manchester, NH | Real change, Eugene → Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $69,905 | +8.9% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $84,579 | +8.9% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $101,375 | +8.9% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $120,548 | +8.9% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $142,452 | +8.9% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Eugene, OR | Manchester, NH | Manchester pay in Eugene dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $64,260 | $73,380 | $70,540 (+9.8%) |
| Software Developers | $121,050 | $162,090 | $155,817 (+28.7%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,930 | $83,660 | $80,422 (+0.6%) |
| Registered Nurses | $113,720 | $98,600 | $94,784 (−16.7%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.