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 12% cheaper than Manhattan, KS without rent, and 49.5% more expensive with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Santa Maria, CA is 8% cheaper than Manhattan, KS without rent, and 44.9% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.33 $20.33

$13.32 $13.32

52.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$71.4 $71.4

$56.5 $56.5

26.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.29 $11.29

$11.80 $11.80

-4.32%

Cappuccino

$4.76 $4.76

$5.11 $5.11

-6.85%

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

$2.49 $2.49

$2.04 $2.04

22.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 $2.03

$1.54 $1.54

31.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.93 $5.93

$5.13 $5.13

15.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.82 $7.82

$6.06 $6.06

29.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.99 $0.99

$0.82 $0.82

20.73%

White Bread (500g)

$2.81 $2.81

$2.98 $2.98

-5.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.81 $4.81

$5.13 $5.13

-6.24%

Eggs

$3.42 $3.42

$4.51 $4.51

-24.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.17 $10.17

$7.83 $7.83

29.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.42 $8.42

$6.50 $6.50

29.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.26 $17.26

$13.12 $13.12

31.55%

Apples (1kg)

$3.85 $3.85

$3.75 $3.75

2.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.73 $1.73

$1.07 $1.07

61.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.52 $3.52

$2.83 $2.83

24.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.26 $3.26

$4.02 $4.02

-18.91%

Potato (1kg)

$2.93 $2.93

$1.03 $1.03

184.47%

Onion (1kg)

$2.04 $2.04

$1.90 $1.90

7.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.69 $1.69

1.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.30 $1.30

$2.20 $2.20

-40.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.14 $11.14

$10.10 $10.10

10.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.86 $14.86

$14.72 $14.72

0.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.70 $1.70

3.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.44 $3.44

$3.40 $3.40

1.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.77 $2.77

-26.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$59.1 $59.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.36 $3.36

$6.91 $6.91

-51.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.35 $1.35

39.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.92 $24.92

$35.06 $35.06

-28.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 $1.27

$0.80 $0.80

58.75%

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

$36.2K $36.2K

$31.0K $31.0K

16.77%

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

$29.6K $29.6K

$24.3K $24.3K

22.02%

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

$165 $165

$111 $111

49.03%

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

$50.5 $50.5

$49.65 $49.65

1.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$85.1 $85.1

$64.4 $64.4

32.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.69 $43.69

$76.4 $76.4

-42.79%

Cinema Ticket

$14.63 $14.63

$14.85 $14.85

-1.48%

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

$978 $978

$821 $821

19.02%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.0K $13.0K

$11.5K $11.5K

13.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.2 $55.2

$48.90 $48.90

12.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.66 $40.66

$34.35 $34.35

18.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.9 $71.9

$83.7 $83.7

-14.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.7 $78.7

$95.0 $95.0

-17.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,282 $2,282

$928 $928

145.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,084 $2,084

$1,016 $1,016

105.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,337 $3,337

$1,775 $1,775

87.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,063 $3,063

$1,462 $1,462

109.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,566 $8,566

$1,396 $1,396

513.51%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$8,478 $8,478

$1,409 $1,409

501.72%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,225 $4,225

$3,418 $3,418

23.60%

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: April 12, 2026

Last update for Manhattan, KS: April 13, 2026

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 other spots: cost of living compared

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