Cost of Living Comparison Between Bentonville, AR and Manhattan, KS Cost of Living Comparison Between Bentonville, AR and Manhattan, KS

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,478 per month in Bentonville, AR vs $2,143 in Manhattan, KS, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,668 per month in Bentonville, AR vs $3,048 in Manhattan, KS, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,858 per month in Bentonville, AR vs $3,954 in Manhattan, KS, rent included.

Bentonville, AR costs about 16% more than Manhattan, KS, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Bentonville, AR and Manhattan, KS sit above the global median – Bentonville, AR by 85%, Manhattan, KS by 60%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$21.64 $21.64

$13.67 $13.67

58.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$85.8 $85.8

$57.7 $57.7

48.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.78 $10.78

$11.91 $11.91

-9.49%

Cappuccino

$5.37 $5.37

$5.21 $5.21

3.07%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.02 $2.02

33.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.20 $2.20

$1.48 $1.48

48.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.09 $6.09

$4.92 $4.92

23.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.52 $6.52

$5.91 $5.91

10.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.78 $0.78

38.46%

White Bread (500g)

$3.26 $3.26

$3.02 $3.02

7.95%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.00 $3.00

$5.10 $5.10

-41.18%

Eggs

$4.85 $4.85

$4.43 $4.43

9.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.92 $9.92

$7.90 $7.90

25.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.47 $16.47

$6.71 $6.71

145.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.37 $16.37

$12.92 $12.92

26.70%

Apples (1kg)

$4.48 $4.48

$3.74 $3.74

19.79%

Banana (1kg)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.10 $1.10

21.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.83 $2.83

1.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.67 $2.67

$4.23 $4.23

-36.88%

Potato (1kg)

$2.40 $2.40

$1.04 $1.04

130.77%

Onion (1kg)

$2.64 $2.64

$1.89 $1.89

39.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.71 $1.71

9.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.93 $1.93

$2.34 $2.34

-17.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.28 $10.28

$10.02 $10.02

2.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.19 $12.19

$16.71 $16.71

-27.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 $1.63

$1.70 $1.70

-4.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$3.30 $3.30

-33.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.82 $2.82

-29.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$58.9 $58.9

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.43 $2.43

$6.95 $6.95

-65.04%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 $1.48

$1.39 $1.39

6.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.10 $24.10

$35.08 $35.08

-31.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.78 $0.78

$0.76 $0.76

2.63%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$23.7K $23.7K

$30.5K $30.5K

-22.37%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.0K $26.0K

$24.6K $24.6K

5.56%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$197 $197

$112 $112

75.86%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$48.02 $48.02

$49.36 $49.36

-2.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.0 $67.0

$64.7 $64.7

3.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.70 $25.70

$74.8 $74.8

-65.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.01 $5.01

Cinema Ticket

$12.43 $12.43

$15.02 $15.02

-17.24%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,047 $1,047

$818 $818

28.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.7K $18.7K

$11.4K $11.4K

64.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.68 $46.68

$49.10 $49.10

-4.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.77 $39.77

$35.43 $35.43

12.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.0 $68.0

$86.3 $86.3

-21.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.6 $69.6

$95.3 $95.3

-27.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,708 $1,708

$924 $924

84.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,279 $1,279

$1,006 $1,006

27.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,999 $2,999

$1,782 $1,782

68.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,078 $2,078

$1,469 $1,469

41.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,872 $3,872

$1,371 $1,371

182.36%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,348 $2,348

$1,415 $1,415

65.92%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,724 $5,724

$3,412 $3,412

67.74%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.56

6.45

1.71%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Bentonville, AR: June 1, 2026

Last update for Manhattan, KS: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,708 in Bentonville, AR versus $924 in Manhattan, KS. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 68% higher in Bentonville, AR, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $86.0 in Bentonville, AR versus $58.0 in Manhattan, KS. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $371 vs $320 – making Manhattan, KS the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Bentonville, AR vs Manhattan, KS: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,478 in Bentonville, AR, $2,143 in Manhattan, KS – roughly 16% apart. Bentonville, AR costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,717 per month in Bentonville, AR and $3,215 in Manhattan, KS. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Manhattan, KS, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,478 in Bentonville, AR and $2,143 in Manhattan, KS. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,047 per month in Bentonville, AR and $818 in Manhattan, KS. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Manhattan, KS, where all-in costs run around $2,143, than in Bentonville, AR at $2,478. In Manhattan, KS it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bentonville, AR it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Manhattan, KS – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Manhattan, KS. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bentonville, AR makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.