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

🙂 Solo nomad: Santa Maria, CA is 3.9% cheaper than Manhattan, KS without rent, and 52.8% more expensive with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Santa Maria, CA is 5.1% cheaper than Manhattan, KS without rent, and 45% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Santa Maria, CA
Manhattan, KS
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.18 $20.18
$13.38 $13.38
50.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.9 $68.9
$57.2 $57.2
20.51%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.29 $11.29
$11.93 $11.93
-5.36%
Cappuccino
$4.76 $4.76
$5.05 $5.05
-5.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45 $2.45
$2.02 $2.02
21.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01 $2.01
$1.53 $1.53
31.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.11 $6.11
$5.1 $5.1
19.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.16 $8.16
$5.94 $5.94
37.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Santa Maria, CA
Manhattan, KS
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.97 $0.97
$0.79 $0.79
22.78%
White Bread (500g)
$2.72 $2.72
$2.97 $2.97
-8.42%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.76 $4.76
$5.06 $5.06
-5.93%
Eggs
$3.59 $3.59
$4.39 $4.39
-18.22%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.26 $10.26
$7.84 $7.84
30.87%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.37 $8.37
$6.69 $6.69
25.11%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.21 $17.21
$13.18 $13.18
30.58%
Apples (1kg)
$3.81 $3.81
$3.69 $3.69
3.25%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.1 $1.1
55.45%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.48 $3.48
$2.8 $2.8
24.29%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.25 $3.25
$4.13 $4.13
-21.31%
Potato (1kg)
$3.07 $3.07
$1.09 $1.09
181.65%
Onion (1kg)
$2.07 $2.07
$1.81 $1.81
14.36%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.78 $1.78
$1.66 $1.66
7.23%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31 $1.31
$2.22 $2.22
-40.99%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11 $11
$10.13 $10.13
8.59%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.26 $15.26
$14.23 $14.23
7.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.71 $1.71
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.31 $3.31
$3.39 $3.39
-2.36%
🚌 Getting Around
Santa Maria, CA
Manhattan, KS
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.94 $1.94
$2.73 $2.73
-28.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$59.8 $59.8
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.49 $3.49
$6.82 $6.82
-48.83%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.81 $1.81
$1.4 $1.4
29.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.6 $24.6
$34.41 $34.41
-28.51%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.23 $1.23
$0.81 $0.81
51.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.8K $36.8K
$30.9K $30.9K
18.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.4K $29.4K
$24.9K $24.9K
17.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Santa Maria, CA
Manhattan, KS
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$166 $166
$112 $112
48.18%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$51.1 $51.1
$50.3 $50.3
1.77%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$85.4 $85.4
$64.2 $64.2
32.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Santa Maria, CA
Manhattan, KS
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.52 $43.52
$75.1 $75.1
-42.02%
Cinema Ticket
$14.55 $14.55
$14.95 $14.95
-2.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Santa Maria, CA
Manhattan, KS
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$992 $992
$833 $833
19.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.9K $12.9K
$11.3K $11.3K
13.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Santa Maria, CA
Manhattan, KS
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.2 $55.2
$48.62 $48.62
13.57%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.73 $39.73
$34.79 $34.79
14.20%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$73 $73
$86.2 $86.2
-15.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.1 $78.1
$94.1 $94.1
-17.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Santa Maria, CA
Manhattan, KS
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,257 $2,257
$922 $922
144.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,012 $1,012
103.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,376 $3,376
$1,724 $1,724
95.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,138 $3,138
$1,476 $1,476
112.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,992 $7,992
$1,346 $1,346
493.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,900 $7,900
$1,317 $1,317
499.87%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Santa Maria, CA
Manhattan, KS
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,387 $4,387
$3,687 $3,687
18.96%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.51
6.45
0.93%

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

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

Last update for Manhattan, KS: October 28, 2025

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