Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Manhattan, KS Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Manhattan, KS

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 37.7% more expensive than Manhattan, KS without rent, and 44.7% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 47.8% more expensive than Manhattan, KS without rent, and 60.4% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Manhattan, KS
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$13.38 $13.38
55.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$57.2 $57.2
75.42%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$11.93 $11.93
0.34%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5.05 $5.05
10.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.02 $2.02
53.96%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$1.53 $1.53
58.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$5.1 $5.1
34.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$5.94 $5.94
42.26%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Manhattan, KS
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$0.79 $0.79
31.65%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$2.97 $2.97
39.73%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$5.06 $5.06
9.09%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$4.39 $4.39
5.92%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$7.84 $7.84
82.78%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$6.69 $6.69
122.42%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$13.18 $13.18
46.74%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$3.69 $3.69
40.11%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.1 $1.1
55.45%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$2.8 $2.8
57.50%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$4.13 $4.13
9.20%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.09 $1.09
132.11%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$1.81 $1.81
51.38%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$1.66 $1.66
46.39%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.22 $2.22
21.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$10.13 $10.13
49.95%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$14.23 $14.23
15.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.71 $1.71
37.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$3.39 $3.39
9.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Manhattan, KS
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.73 $2.73
-7.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
$59.8 $59.8
23.92%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$6.82 $6.82
-51.03%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.4 $1.4
1.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$34.41 $34.41
-26.13%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.81 $0.81
33.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$30.9K $30.9K
4.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$24.9K $24.9K
5.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Manhattan, KS
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$112 $112
67.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$50.3 $50.3
26.77%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$64.2 $64.2
1.51%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Manhattan, KS
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$75.1 $75.1
2.21%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$14.95 $14.95
-0.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Manhattan, KS
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$833 $833
147.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$11.3K $11.3K
246.04%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Manhattan, KS
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$48.62 $48.62
32.27%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$34.79 $34.79
50.59%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$86.2 $86.2
10.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$94.1 $94.1
53.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Manhattan, KS
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$922 $922
157.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,012 $1,012
56.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$1,724 $1,724
176.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$1,476 $1,476
90.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$1,346 $1,346
166.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$1,317 $1,317
89.09%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Manhattan, KS
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$3,687 $3,687
43.06%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.45
2.33%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Manhattan, KS: October 28, 2025

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