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 $2,125 per month in Cincinnati, OH vs $2,143 in Manhattan, KS, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,297 per month in Cincinnati, OH vs $3,048 in Manhattan, KS, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,470 per month in Cincinnati, OH vs $3,954 in Manhattan, KS, rent included.

Cincinnati, OH is about 1% cheaper than Manhattan, KS, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Cincinnati, OH and Manhattan, KS sit above the global median – Cincinnati, OH by 59%, Manhattan, KS by 60%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.90 $14.90

$13.67 $13.67

9.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59.1 $59.1

$57.7 $57.7

2.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.15 $8.15

$11.91 $11.91

-31.57%

Cappuccino

$4.47 $4.47

$5.21 $5.21

-14.20%

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

$2.23 $2.23

$2.02 $2.02

10.40%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 $2.14

$1.48 $1.48

44.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.90 $4.90

$4.92 $4.92

-0.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.93 $6.93

$5.91 $5.91

17.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.83 $0.83

$0.78 $0.78

6.41%

White Bread (500g)

$3.32 $3.32

$3.02 $3.02

9.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.87 $3.87

$5.10 $5.10

-24.12%

Eggs

$3.25 $3.25

$4.43 $4.43

-26.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.37 $10.37

$7.90 $7.90

31.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.58 $9.58

$6.71 $6.71

42.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.51 $15.51

$12.92 $12.92

20.05%

Apples (1kg)

$4.69 $4.69

$3.74 $3.74

25.40%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 $1.44

$1.10 $1.10

30.91%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.93 $3.93

$2.83 $2.83

38.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.06 $5.06

$4.23 $4.23

19.62%

Potato (1kg)

$2.08 $2.08

$1.04 $1.04

100.00%

Onion (1kg)

$3.05 $3.05

$1.89 $1.89

61.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.71 $1.71

2.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.41 $1.41

$2.34 $2.34

-39.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.92 $8.92

$10.02 $10.02

-10.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.04 $15.04

$16.71 $16.71

-9.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.00 $2.00

$1.70 $1.70

17.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.75 $1.75

$3.30 $3.30

-46.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.82 $2.82

-27.66%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$79.6 $79.6

$58.9 $58.9

35.05%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.68 $3.68

$6.95 $6.95

-47.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.21 $1.21

$1.39 $1.39

-12.95%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.64 $24.64

$35.08 $35.08

-29.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.89 $0.89

$0.76 $0.76

17.11%

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

$35.1K $35.1K

$30.5K $30.5K

15.14%

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

$24.7K $24.7K

$24.6K $24.6K

0.55%

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

$119 $119

$112 $112

6.23%

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

$56.9 $56.9

$49.36 $49.36

15.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.0 $57.0

$64.7 $64.7

-11.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.32 $30.32

$74.8 $74.8

-59.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.50 $8.50

Cinema Ticket

$13.96 $13.96

$15.02 $15.02

-7.06%

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

$1,595 $1,595

$818 $818

95.02%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.1K $17.1K

$11.4K $11.4K

50.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.05 $41.05

$49.10 $49.10

-16.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.57 $39.57

$35.43 $35.43

11.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.2 $90.2

$86.3 $86.3

4.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$99.2 $99.2

$95.3 $95.3

4.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,476 $1,476

$924 $924

59.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,055 $1,055

$1,006 $1,006

4.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,899 $2,899

$1,782 $1,782

62.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,965 $1,965

$1,469 $1,469

33.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,481 $3,481

$1,371 $1,371

153.86%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,073 $2,073

$1,415 $1,415

46.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,055 $4,055

$3,412 $3,412

18.83%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.54

6.45

1.40%

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

Last update for Cincinnati, OH: June 1, 2026

Last update for Manhattan, KS: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,476 in Cincinnati, OH 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 19% higher in Cincinnati, OH, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $59.0 in Cincinnati, OH versus $58.0 in Manhattan, KS. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $349 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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $2,125 in Cincinnati, OH, $2,143 in Manhattan, KS – roughly 1% apart. Manhattan, KS costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,187 per month in Cincinnati, OH 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 Cincinnati, OH, 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 $2,125 in Cincinnati, OH and $2,143 in Manhattan, KS. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 35% less in Cincinnati, OH. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Cincinnati, OH, where all-in costs run around $2,125, than in Manhattan, KS at $2,143. In Cincinnati, OH it covers expenses comfortably, while in Manhattan, KS it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Cincinnati, OH – 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 Cincinnati, OH. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Manhattan, KS makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.