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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,149 in Manhattan, KS versus $3,198 in Santa Maria, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,010 in Manhattan, KS versus $4,367 in Santa Maria, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,872 in Manhattan, KS versus $5,536 in Santa Maria, CA.

Living in Manhattan, KS costs roughly 33% less than in Santa Maria, CA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Manhattan, KS 61% above, Santa Maria, CA 139% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.67 $13.67

$19.62 $19.62

-30.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$58.1 $58.1

$70.4 $70.4

-17.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.83 $11.83

$11.57 $11.57

2.25%

Cappuccino

$5.14 $5.14

$4.97 $4.97

3.42%

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

$2.04 $2.04

$2.52 $2.52

-19.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.48 $1.48

$1.99 $1.99

-25.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.06 $5.06

$5.97 $5.97

-15.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.90 $5.90

$7.82 $7.82

-24.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.83 $0.83

$0.99 $0.99

-16.16%

White Bread (500g)

$2.97 $2.97

$2.71 $2.71

9.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.24 $5.24

$4.86 $4.86

7.82%

Eggs

$4.44 $4.44

$3.47 $3.47

27.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.57 $7.57

$10.08 $10.08

-24.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.62 $6.62

$8.25 $8.25

-19.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.18 $13.18

$17.00 $17.00

-22.47%

Apples (1kg)

$3.76 $3.76

$3.71 $3.71

1.35%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 $1.06

$1.69 $1.69

-37.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.85 $2.85

$3.47 $3.47

-17.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.18 $4.18

$3.36 $3.36

24.40%

Potato (1kg)

$1.04 $1.04

$2.93 $2.93

-64.51%

Onion (1kg)

$1.90 $1.90

$2.13 $2.13

-10.80%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.76 $1.76

-2.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.24 $2.24

$1.37 $1.37

63.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.18 $10.18

$10.96 $10.96

-7.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.32 $17.32

$15.28 $15.28

13.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.75 $1.75

-2.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.25 $3.25

$3.38 $3.38

-3.85%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.78 $2.78

$2.04 $2.04

36.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$58.9 $58.9

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.86 $6.86

$3.36 $3.36

104.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.81 $1.81

-25.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.61 $34.61

$24.87 $24.87

39.16%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.75 $0.75

$1.24 $1.24

-39.52%

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

$30.5K $30.5K

$36.8K $36.8K

-17.16%

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

$24.3K $24.3K

$29.7K $29.7K

-18.04%

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

$111 $111

$167 $167

-33.94%

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

$49.35 $49.35

$49.67 $49.67

-0.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$64.0 $64.0

$84.1 $84.1

-23.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$73.9 $73.9

$42.26 $42.26

74.82%

Cinema Ticket

$14.90 $14.90

$14.67 $14.67

1.57%

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

$819 $819

$971 $971

-15.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.3K $11.3K

$13.2K $13.2K

-14.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.75 $49.75

$55.3 $55.3

-10.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.91 $34.91

$40.59 $40.59

-13.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.2 $86.2

$71.3 $71.3

20.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$91.8 $91.8

$78.7 $78.7

16.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$914 $914

$2,232 $2,232

-59.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,025 $1,025

$2,025 $2,025

-49.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,784 $1,784

$3,331 $3,331

-46.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,472 $1,472

$3,075 $3,075

-52.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,383 $1,383

$8,476 $8,476

-83.68%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,390 $1,390

$8,475 $8,475

-83.60%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,450 $3,450

$4,198 $4,198

-17.82%

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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Santa Maria, CA: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $914 in Manhattan, KS and $2,232 in Santa Maria, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Santa Maria, CA pays 22% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $58.0 in Manhattan, KS vs $70.0 in Santa Maria, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $320 vs $335 per month, with Manhattan, KS cheaper across the board.

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

Manhattan, KS vs Santa Maria, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Manhattan, KS is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 49% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 22% lower in Santa Maria, CA. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $914 in Manhattan, KS versus $2,232 in Santa Maria, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 5% higher in Santa Maria, CA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $2,149 per month in Manhattan, KS versus $3,198 in Santa Maria, CA – a 49% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,149 in Manhattan, KS versus $3,198 in Santa Maria, CA, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Manhattan, KS but tight or insufficient in Santa Maria, CA. The gap between the two cities makes Manhattan, KS the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Manhattan, KS and Santa Maria, CA are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Manhattan, KS gentler on the wallet – expenses run 49% less than in Santa Maria, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.