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 $2,174 per month in Cincinnati, OH vs $2,057 in Mankato, MN, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,294 per month in Cincinnati, OH vs $3,053 in Mankato, MN, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,414 per month in Cincinnati, OH vs $4,049 in Mankato, MN, rent included.

Cincinnati, OH costs about 6% more than Mankato, MN, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Cincinnati, OH and Mankato, MN sit above the global median – Cincinnati, OH by 62%, Mankato, MN by 54%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.08 $15.08

$15.79 $15.79

-4.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.1 $60.1

$70.8 $70.8

-15.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.85 $7.85

$9.94 $9.94

-21.03%

Cappuccino

$4.26 $4.26

$5.10 $5.10

-16.47%

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

$2.20 $2.20

$2.13 $2.13

3.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$1.68 $1.68

29.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.89 $4.89

$5.08 $5.08

-3.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.93 $6.93

$5.95 $5.95

16.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.78 $0.78

$0.96 $0.96

-18.75%

White Bread (500g)

$3.23 $3.23

$2.57 $2.57

25.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.82 $3.82

$2.18 $2.18

75.23%

Eggs

$3.28 $3.28

$3.44 $3.44

-4.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.31 $10.31

$8.49 $8.49

21.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.23 $9.23

$14.83 $14.83

-37.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.45 $15.45

$17.14 $17.14

-9.86%

Apples (1kg)

$4.65 $4.65

$4.50 $4.50

3.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.37 $1.37

$1.58 $1.58

-13.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$3.77 $3.77

7.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.94 $4.94

$3.54 $3.54

39.55%

Potato (1kg)

$2.08 $2.08

$4.29 $4.29

-51.52%

Onion (1kg)

$3.02 $3.02

$3.05 $3.05

-0.98%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.75 $1.75

$2.40 $2.40

-27.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.47 $1.47

$2.02 $2.02

-27.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.86 $8.86

$12.14 $12.14

-27.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.13 $15.13

$15.02 $15.02

0.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.00 $2.00

$1.74 $1.74

14.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.82 $1.82

$4.28 $4.28

-57.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.03 $2.03

-2.46%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$79.2 $79.2

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.67 $3.67

$2.04 $2.04

79.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.23 $1.23

$1.44 $1.44

-14.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.88 $24.88

$19.97 $19.97

24.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 $0.88

$0.78 $0.78

12.82%

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

$35.5K $35.5K

$25.9K $25.9K

36.86%

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

$25.0K $25.0K

$24.4K $24.4K

2.48%

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

$120 $120

$131 $131

-8.57%

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

$56.6 $56.6

$51.8 $51.8

9.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.2 $57.2

$75.6 $75.6

-24.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.19 $31.19

$39.54 $39.54

-21.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.69 $8.69

Cinema Ticket

$13.53 $13.53

$14.98 $14.98

-9.68%

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

$1,579 $1,579

$1,371 $1,371

15.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.5K $17.5K

$11.8K $11.8K

47.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$40.39 $40.39

$62.3 $62.3

-35.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.98 $39.98

$35.41 $35.41

12.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.1 $88.1

$71.6 $71.6

23.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$99.9 $99.9

$144 $144

-30.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,477 $1,477

$987 $987

49.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,060 $1,060

$908 $908

16.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,854 $2,854

$2,622 $2,622

8.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,996 $1,996

$1,476 $1,476

35.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,510 $3,510

$1,639 $1,639

114.07%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,044 $2,044

$1,603 $1,603

27.49%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,068 $4,068

$3,898 $3,898

4.38%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.54

6.61

-1.06%

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

Last update for Cincinnati, OH: April 21, 2026

Last update for Mankato, MN: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,477 in Cincinnati, OH versus $987 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 4% 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 $60 in Cincinnati, OH versus $71 in Mankato, MN. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $345 vs $374 – 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: $2,174 in Cincinnati, OH, $2,057 in Mankato, MN – roughly 6% apart. Cincinnati, OH costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,261 per month in Cincinnati, OH and $3,086 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 $60.0 in Cincinnati, OH and $71.0 in Mankato, MN. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 8% 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 $2,057, than in Cincinnati, OH at $2,174. 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.