City comparison
Manchester, NH vs Nashville, TN
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Manchester, NH are 9.7% higher than in Nashville, TN. Someone earning $100,000 in Nashville, TN would need about $109,700 in Manchester, NH to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,552 a month in Manchester, NH and $1,578 in Nashville, TN.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $0 a year in NH and $0 in TN.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −11.7% moving from Manchester, NH to Nashville, TN ($120,548 → $106,437), while prices change by −8.8%. Net effect of the transfer: −3.2% in real buying power.
- Manchester, NH: price level 105.7 (pricier)
- Nashville, TN: price level 96.3 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Manchester, NH | Nashville, TN | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 105.7 | 96.3 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $91,180 in Nashville | $109,673 in Manchester |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,552/mo | $1,578/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (NH) | $0 (TN) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 24% | 24% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $56,530 | $50,390 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Manchester, NH HUD Metro FMR Area and Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Manchester-Nashua, NH and Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Manchester | Nashville |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 134.2 | 104.6 |
| Goods | 97.7 | 96.2 |
| Utilities | 133.5 | 72.0 |
| Other services | 103.7 | 95.1 |
| Overall | 105.7 | 96.3 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Manchester, NH → Nashville, TN
Same pay goes further
Buying power +9.7%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
99 Strong offer
Nashville, TN → Manchester, NH
Same pay buys less
Buying power −8.8%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
41 Weak offer
On the GS pay scale?
Manchester, NH is in the Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT pay area; Nashville, TN is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Manchester, NH to Nashville, TN at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Manchester, NH | Nashville, TN | Real change, Manchester → Nashville |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $69,905 | $61,722 | −3.2% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $84,579 | $74,678 | −3.2% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $101,375 | $89,508 | −3.2% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $120,548 | $106,437 | −3.2% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $142,452 | $125,776 | −3.2% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Manchester, NH | Nashville, TN | Nashville pay in Manchester dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $73,380 | $61,460 | $67,405 (−8.1%) |
| Software Developers | $162,090 | $126,610 | $138,857 (−14.3%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $83,660 | $78,080 | $85,633 (+2.4%) |
| Registered Nurses | $98,600 | $84,040 | $92,169 (−6.5%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.