Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Manhattan, KS Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Manhattan, KS

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,598 in Seattle, WA versus $2,143 in Manhattan, KS.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,539 in Seattle, WA versus $3,048 in Manhattan, KS.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,479 in Seattle, WA versus $3,954 in Manhattan, KS.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 68% more expensive than Manhattan, KS, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 168% above, Manhattan, KS 60% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.80 $24.80

$13.67 $13.67

81.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$57.7 $57.7

103.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.77 $13.77

$11.91 $11.91

15.62%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$5.21 $5.21

9.60%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$2.02 $2.02

50.99%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$1.48 $1.48

68.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$4.92 $4.92

59.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$5.91 $5.91

33.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 $1.35

$0.78 $0.78

73.08%

White Bread (500g)

$5.06 $5.06

$3.02 $3.02

67.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$5.10 $5.10

5.69%

Eggs

$6.85 $6.85

$4.43 $4.43

54.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.07 $25.07

$7.90 $7.90

217.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.85 $15.85

$6.71 $6.71

136.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.59 $20.59

$12.92 $12.92

59.37%

Apples (1kg)

$6.14 $6.14

$3.74 $3.74

64.17%

Banana (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.10 $1.10

156.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.51 $5.51

$2.83 $2.83

94.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.74 $6.74

$4.23 $4.23

59.34%

Potato (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$1.04 $1.04

202.88%

Onion (1kg)

$3.82 $3.82

$1.89 $1.89

102.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.69 $2.69

$1.71 $1.71

57.31%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.64 $2.64

$2.34 $2.34

12.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.65 $11.65

$10.02 $10.02

16.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.69 $15.69

$16.71 $16.71

-6.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.93 $2.93

$1.70 $1.70

72.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.24 $4.24

$3.30 $3.30

28.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.82 $2.82

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$100 $100

$58.9 $58.9

69.94%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$6.95 $6.95

-62.59%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.39 $1.39

23.74%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.22 $30.22

$35.08 $35.08

-13.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 $1.19

$0.76 $0.76

56.58%

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

$32.7K $32.7K

$30.5K $30.5K

7.16%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$24.6K $24.6K

6.18%

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

$263 $263

$112 $112

133.78%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$49.36 $49.36

23.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.9 $75.9

$64.7 $64.7

17.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.6 $79.6

$74.8 $74.8

6.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.89 $39.89

Cinema Ticket

$16.27 $16.27

$15.02 $15.02

8.32%

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

$2,281 $2,281

$818 $818

178.96%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.3K $29.3K

$11.4K $11.4K

157.56%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.6 $68.6

$49.10 $49.10

39.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 $52.0

$35.43 $35.43

46.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

$86.3 $86.3

34.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$95.3 $95.3

50.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,336 $2,336

$924 $924

152.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,863 $1,863

$1,006 $1,006

85.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,628 $4,628

$1,782 $1,782

159.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,477 $3,477

$1,469 $1,469

136.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,766 $7,766

$1,371 $1,371

466.35%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,232 $5,232

$1,415 $1,415

269.69%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,617 $6,617

$3,412 $3,412

93.90%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.45

-0.47%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: May 30, 2026

Last update for Manhattan, KS: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,336 in Seattle, WA and $924 in Manhattan, KS. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 94% 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: $118 in Seattle, WA vs $58.0 in Manhattan, KS for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $547 vs $320 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

Seattle, WA vs Manhattan, KS: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Manhattan, KS is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 68% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Seattle, WA pays 94% more on average, 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: $2,336 in Seattle, WA versus $924 in Manhattan, KS. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $2,281 in Seattle, WA versus $818 in Manhattan, KS. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 71% higher in Seattle, WA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $2,143 in Manhattan, KS versus $3,598 in Seattle, WA, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Manhattan, KS but tight or insufficient in Seattle, WA. The gap between the two cities makes Manhattan, KS the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Manhattan, KS is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Seattle, WA, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Seattle, WA 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 68% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.