Cost of Living Comparison Between Manhattan, KS and Santa Maria, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Manhattan, KS and Santa Maria, CA

😐 Solo nomad: Manhattan, KS is 4% more expensive than Santa Maria, CA without rent, and 34.5% cheaper with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Manhattan, KS is 5.4% more expensive than Santa Maria, CA without rent, and 31% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Manhattan, KS
Santa Maria, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.38 $13.38
$20.18 $20.18
-33.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.2 $57.2
$68.9 $68.9
-17.02%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.93 $11.93
$11.29 $11.29
5.67%
Cappuccino
$5.05 $5.05
$4.76 $4.76
6.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.02 $2.02
$2.45 $2.45
-17.55%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.53 $1.53
$2.01 $2.01
-23.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.1 $5.1
$6.11 $6.11
-16.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.94 $5.94
$8.16 $8.16
-27.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Manhattan, KS
Santa Maria, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.79 $0.79
$0.97 $0.97
-18.56%
White Bread (500g)
$2.97 $2.97
$2.72 $2.72
9.19%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.06 $5.06
$4.76 $4.76
6.30%
Eggs
$4.39 $4.39
$3.59 $3.59
22.28%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.84 $7.84
$10.26 $10.26
-23.59%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.69 $6.69
$8.37 $8.37
-20.07%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.18 $13.18
$17.21 $17.21
-23.42%
Apples (1kg)
$3.69 $3.69
$3.81 $3.81
-3.15%
Banana (1kg)
$1.1 $1.1
$1.71 $1.71
-35.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.8 $2.8
$3.48 $3.48
-19.54%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.13 $4.13
$3.25 $3.25
27.08%
Potato (1kg)
$1.09 $1.09
$3.07 $3.07
-64.50%
Onion (1kg)
$1.81 $1.81
$2.07 $2.07
-12.56%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.66 $1.66
$1.78 $1.78
-6.74%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.22 $2.22
$1.31 $1.31
69.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.13 $10.13
$11 $11
-7.91%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.23 $14.23
$15.26 $15.26
-6.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.71 $1.71
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.39 $3.39
$3.31 $3.31
2.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Manhattan, KS
Santa Maria, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.73 $2.73
$1.94 $1.94
40.72%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$59.8 $59.8
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.82 $6.82
$3.49 $3.49
95.42%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.4 $1.4
$1.81 $1.81
-22.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$34.41 $34.41
$24.6 $24.6
39.88%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.81 $0.81
$1.23 $1.23
-34.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9K $30.9K
$36.8K $36.8K
-15.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.9K $24.9K
$29.4K $29.4K
-15.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Manhattan, KS
Santa Maria, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$112 $112
$166 $166
-32.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$50.3 $50.3
$51.1 $51.1
-1.74%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$64.2 $64.2
$85.4 $85.4
-24.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Manhattan, KS
Santa Maria, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$75.1 $75.1
$43.52 $43.52
72.47%
Cinema Ticket
$14.95 $14.95
$14.55 $14.55
2.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Manhattan, KS
Santa Maria, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$833 $833
$992 $992
-16.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.3K $11.3K
$12.9K $12.9K
-11.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Manhattan, KS
Santa Maria, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.62 $48.62
$55.2 $55.2
-11.95%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.79 $34.79
$39.73 $39.73
-12.43%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.2 $86.2
$73 $73
18.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$94.1 $94.1
$78.1 $78.1
20.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Manhattan, KS
Santa Maria, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$922 $922
$2,257 $2,257
-59.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,012 $1,012
$2,063 $2,063
-50.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,724 $1,724
$3,376 $3,376
-48.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,476 $1,476
$3,138 $3,138
-52.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,346 $1,346
$7,992 $7,992
-83.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,317 $1,317
$7,900 $7,900
-83.33%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Manhattan, KS
Santa Maria, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,687 $3,687
$4,387 $4,387
-15.94%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.45
6.51
-0.92%

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

Last update for Manhattan, KS: October 28, 2025

Last update for Santa Maria, CA: October 28, 2025

Join the CityCost newsletter – low traffic, no spam, and easy to unsubscribe. Your email stays private.