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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,954 in Santa Maria, CA versus $2,259 in Manhattan, KS.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,163 in Santa Maria, CA versus $3,228 in Manhattan, KS.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,373 in Santa Maria, CA versus $4,197 in Manhattan, KS.

Living in Santa Maria, CA is roughly 31% more expensive than in Manhattan, KS, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Santa Maria, CA 115% above, Manhattan, KS 64% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.15 $13.15

$15.11 $15.11

-12.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59.5 $59.5

$79.6 $79.6

-25.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.94 $9.94

$11.88 $11.88

-16.33%

Cappuccino

$5.81 $5.81

$5.38 $5.38

7.99%

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

$2.73 $2.73

$1.95 $1.95

40.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 $2.02

$1.49 $1.49

35.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.16 $8.16

$5.02 $5.02

62.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.00 $9.00

$7.36 $7.36

22.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$0.76 $0.76

57.89%

White Bread (500g)

$5.76 $5.76

$3.18 $3.18

81.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.44 $4.44

$6.22 $6.22

-28.62%

Eggs

$4.82 $4.82

$4.47 $4.47

7.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.59 $8.59

$11.74 $11.74

-26.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.54 $7.54

$8.70 $8.70

-13.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.42 $13.42

$14.66 $14.66

-8.46%

Apples (1kg)

$1.34 $1.34

$7.01 $7.01

-80.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.43 $1.43

$2.29 $2.29

-37.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.58 $2.58

$6.04 $6.04

-57.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.34 $3.34

$4.22 $4.22

-20.85%

Potato (1kg)

$1.90 $1.90

$3.09 $3.09

-38.51%

Onion (1kg)

$1.03 $1.03

$3.78 $3.78

-72.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.99 $1.99

$1.90 $1.90

4.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.21 $2.21

$2.67 $2.67

-17.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.80 $11.80

$10.07 $10.07

17.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.92 $14.92

$17.32 $17.32

-13.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 $1.78

$1.71 $1.71

4.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.10 $3.10

$2.43 $2.43

27.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.98 $1.98

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$49.30 $49.30

$60.9 $60.9

-18.99%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.59 $4.59

$5.15 $5.15

-10.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.89 $1.89

$1.90 $1.90

-0.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.51 $35.51

$35.62 $35.62

-0.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$0.87 $0.87

54.02%

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

$37.0K $37.0K

$36.1K $36.1K

2.45%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$24.7K $24.7K

3.10%

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

$160 $160

$122 $122

30.84%

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

$72.1 $72.1

$50.1 $50.1

44.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.1 $71.1

$64.3 $64.3

10.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.84 $29.84

$74.6 $74.6

-60.01%

Cinema Ticket

$11.95 $11.95

$14.78 $14.78

-19.15%

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

$1,929 $1,929

$838 $838

130.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$42.9K $42.9K

$11.6K $11.6K

268.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.12 $47.12

$50.3 $50.3

-6.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.82 $39.82

$35.19 $35.19

13.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.2 $79.2

$89.6 $89.6

-11.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$123 $123

$129 $129

-4.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,216 $2,216

$916 $916

141.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,758 $1,758

$1,002 $1,002

75.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,462 $3,462

$1,507 $1,507

129.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,912 $2,912

$1,434 $1,434

103.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,539 $8,539

$1,399 $1,399

510.12%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$8,478 $8,478

$1,406 $1,406

503.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,295 $4,295

$3,479 $3,479

23.45%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.08

6.03

0.83%

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

Last update for Santa Maria, CA: August 30, 2026

Last update for Manhattan, KS: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,216 in Santa Maria, CA and $916 in Manhattan, KS. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Santa Maria, CA pays 23% 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: $60.0 in Santa Maria, CA vs $80.0 in Manhattan, KS for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $340 vs $403 per month, with Santa Maria, CA 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

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

Manhattan, KS is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 31% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 23% higher in Santa Maria, CA, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,216 in Santa Maria, CA versus $916 in Manhattan, KS. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,929 in Santa Maria, CA versus $838 in Manhattan, KS. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Shoppers in Santa Maria, CA pay roughly 19% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

At $2,259 in Manhattan, KS versus $2,954 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, Santa Maria, CA and Manhattan, KS 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 31% less than in Santa Maria, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.