Cost of Living Comparison Between Cincinnati, OH and Manhattan, KS Cost of Living Comparison Between Cincinnati, OH and Manhattan, KS

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,304 per month in Cincinnati, OH vs $2,189 in Manhattan, KS, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,411 per month in Cincinnati, OH vs $3,245 in Manhattan, KS, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,518 per month in Cincinnati, OH vs $4,302 in Manhattan, KS, rent included.

Cincinnati, OH costs about 5% more than Manhattan, KS, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Cincinnati, OH and Manhattan, KS sit above the global median – Cincinnati, OH by 68%, Manhattan, KS by 60%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.86 $14.86

$14.94 $14.94

-0.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.16 $49.16

$79.4 $79.4

-38.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.82 $9.82

$11.84 $11.84

-17.06%

Cappuccino

$4.91 $4.91

$5.41 $5.41

-9.24%

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

$2.29 $2.29

$1.98 $1.98

15.66%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.93 $1.93

$1.52 $1.52

26.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.34 $5.34

$5.12 $5.12

4.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.62 $7.62

$7.33 $7.33

3.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 $0.94

$0.76 $0.76

23.68%

White Bread (500g)

$3.41 $3.41

$3.19 $3.19

6.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.15 $4.15

$6.05 $6.05

-31.40%

Eggs

$4.26 $4.26

$4.69 $4.69

-9.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.99 $12.99

$11.69 $11.69

11.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.02 $11.02

$9.14 $9.14

20.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.18 $16.18

$14.78 $14.78

9.47%

Apples (1kg)

$5.81 $5.81

$6.63 $6.63

-12.37%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 $1.64

$2.27 $2.27

-27.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.20 $4.20

$6.11 $6.11

-31.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.64 $4.64

$4.22 $4.22

9.95%

Potato (1kg)

$2.55 $2.55

$3.19 $3.19

-20.06%

Onion (1kg)

$3.14 $3.14

$3.66 $3.66

-14.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.10 $2.10

$1.90 $1.90

10.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.91 $1.91

$2.54 $2.54

-24.80%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.51 $10.51

$9.89 $9.89

6.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.23 $15.23

$17.16 $17.16

-11.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.07 $2.07

$1.74 $1.74

18.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.10 $3.10

$2.47 $2.47

25.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.69 $2.69

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$105 $105

$60.7 $60.7

72.80%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.78 $3.78

$5.06 $5.06

-25.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.22 $1.22

$1.82 $1.82

-32.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.77 $24.77

$34.67 $34.67

-28.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.02 $1.02

$0.85 $0.85

20.00%

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

$35.6K $35.6K

-0.02%

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

$25.4K $25.4K

$25.7K $25.7K

-0.84%

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

$151 $151

$121 $121

23.97%

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

$75.6 $75.6

$51.6 $51.6

46.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.0 $70.0

$65.4 $65.4

7.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.86 $34.86

$74.9 $74.9

-53.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.71 $13.71

Cinema Ticket

$14.33 $14.33

$15.21 $15.21

-5.79%

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

$1,439 $1,439

$831 $831

73.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$19.9K $19.9K

$11.6K $11.6K

70.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.73 $44.73

$51.9 $51.9

-13.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.21 $44.21

$34.33 $34.33

28.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.6 $81.6

$92.1 $92.1

-11.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 $109

$132 $132

-17.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,589 $1,589

$917 $917

73.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,060 $1,060

$999 $999

6.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,121 $3,121

$1,480 $1,480

110.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,864 $1,864

$1,405 $1,405

32.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,486 $3,486

$1,388 $1,388

151.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,100 $2,100

$1,412 $1,412

48.72%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,163 $4,163

$3,438 $3,438

21.09%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.21

6.03

2.99%

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

Last update for Cincinnati, OH: September 12, 2026

Last update for Manhattan, KS: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,589 in Cincinnati, OH versus $917 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 21% higher in Cincinnati, OH, 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 $49.00 in Cincinnati, OH versus $79.0 in Manhattan, KS. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $391 vs $403 – making Cincinnati, OH 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

Cincinnati, OH vs Manhattan, KS: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,304 in Cincinnati, OH, $2,189 in Manhattan, KS – roughly 5% apart. Cincinnati, OH costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,456 per month in Cincinnati, OH and $3,284 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 $2,304 in Cincinnati, OH and $2,189 in Manhattan, KS. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 73% less in Manhattan, KS. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Manhattan, KS, where all-in costs run around $2,189, than in Cincinnati, OH at $2,304. In Manhattan, KS it covers expenses comfortably, while in Cincinnati, OH 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, Cincinnati, OH makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.