Cost of Living Comparison Between Cincinnati, OH and Mankato, MN Cost of Living Comparison Between Cincinnati, OH and Mankato, MN

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,340 per month in Cincinnati, OH vs $2,102 in Mankato, MN, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,501 per month in Cincinnati, OH vs $3,150 in Mankato, MN, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,662 per month in Cincinnati, OH vs $4,197 in Mankato, MN, rent included.

Cincinnati, OH costs about 11% more than Mankato, MN, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Cincinnati, OH and Mankato, MN sit above the global median – Cincinnati, OH by 70%, Mankato, MN by 53%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.21 $15.21

$19.71 $19.71

-22.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.5 $50.5

$68.8 $68.8

-26.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.95 $9.95

$9.89 $9.89

0.61%

Cappuccino

$4.89 $4.89

$5.03 $5.03

-2.78%

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

$2.31 $2.31

$2.08 $2.08

11.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.90 $1.90

$1.62 $1.62

17.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.46 $5.46

$4.88 $4.88

11.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.59 $7.59

$5.63 $5.63

34.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 $0.94

$0.85 $0.85

10.59%

White Bread (500g)

$3.27 $3.27

$3.04 $3.04

7.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.19 $4.19

$3.27 $3.27

28.13%

Eggs

$4.26 $4.26

$3.36 $3.36

26.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.00 $13.00

$8.28 $8.28

57.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.98 $10.98

$16.47 $16.47

-33.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.24 $16.24

$17.26 $17.26

-5.91%

Apples (1kg)

$5.61 $5.61

$8.07 $8.07

-30.48%

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 $1.59

$2.32 $2.32

-31.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.44 $4.44

$6.49 $6.49

-31.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.60 $4.60

$3.86 $3.86

19.17%

Potato (1kg)

$2.60 $2.60

$4.14 $4.14

-37.20%

Onion (1kg)

$3.20 $3.20

$3.77 $3.77

-15.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.01 $2.01

$2.58 $2.58

-22.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.85 $1.85

$1.99 $1.99

-7.04%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.33 $10.33

$9.11 $9.11

13.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.96 $14.96

$15.27 $15.27

-2.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.13 $2.13

$1.71 $1.71

24.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.05 $3.05

$4.14 $4.14

-26.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.60 $2.60

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$106 $106

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.77 $3.77

$2.04 $2.04

84.80%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.27 $1.27

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.36 $25.36

$20.22 $20.22

25.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.84 $0.84

28.57%

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

$35.5K $35.5K

$36.1K $36.1K

-1.52%

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

$25.8K $25.8K

$25.1K $25.1K

3.09%

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

$152 $152

$187 $187

-18.47%

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

$76.8 $76.8

$52.2 $52.2

47.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.8 $70.8

$77.7 $77.7

-8.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.48 $34.48

$40.33 $40.33

-14.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.95 $13.95

Cinema Ticket

$14.23 $14.23

$14.88 $14.88

-4.37%

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

$1,438 $1,438

$1,363 $1,363

5.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$19.6K $19.6K

$11.8K $11.8K

66.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.81 $45.81

$65.9 $65.9

-30.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.91 $44.91

$36.14 $36.14

24.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.8 $81.8

$79.8 $79.8

2.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$110 $110

$75.6 $75.6

45.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,635 $1,635

$983 $983

66.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,062 $1,062

$874 $874

21.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,158 $3,158

$2,158 $2,158

46.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,853 $1,853

$1,455 $1,455

27.34%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,437 $3,437

$1,630 $1,630

110.92%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,134 $2,134

$1,595 $1,595

33.83%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,184 $4,184

$4,463 $4,463

-6.24%

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: August 30, 2026

Last update for Mankato, MN: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,635 in Cincinnati, OH versus $983 in Mankato, MN. 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 7% higher in Mankato, MN, 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 $50.0 in Cincinnati, OH versus $69.0 in Mankato, MN. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $388 vs $425 – 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 Mankato, MN: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,340 in Cincinnati, OH, $2,102 in Mankato, MN – roughly 11% apart. Cincinnati, OH costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,509 per month in Cincinnati, OH and $3,153 in Mankato, MN. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $50.0 in Cincinnati, OH and $69.0 in Mankato, MN. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 10% cheaper in Cincinnati, OH – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Mankato, MN, where all-in costs run around $2,102, than in Cincinnati, OH at $2,340. In Mankato, MN it covers expenses comfortably, while in Cincinnati, OH it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Mankato, MN – 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 Mankato, MN. 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.