Cost of living answer

Cost of Living in Manhattan, KS

Cost of Living in Manhattan, KS has an overall index of 87, 13% below the U.S. baseline of 100. The typical home value is $243,700; typical monthly rent is $1,100; and median household income is $58,441.

Cost index: committed city housing/rent inputs and BEA 2024 metro-area price parities. Home value: Census ACS 2023 fallback place estimate. Rent: Zillow ZORI market signal as of 2026-02. A place-level signal, not a personal affordability decision or financial recommendation.

Cost vs U.S.13% belowOverall modeled index 87
Typical rent$1,100/moZillow ZORI
Typical home value$243,700Census ACS
Median household income$58,441Census ACS place estimate
Market PressureModerate

Rent and home prices are comparatively balanced with local income. This describes the local market, not your household.

Rent pressure
23%
Typical annual rent divided by local median household income.
Buy pressure
4.2x
Typical home value divided by local median household income.
Your Household Fit

Can your household carry the housing cost?

Start with four decisions. Open advanced assumptions only when you need to replace the local defaults.

Your household inputs
Are you renting or buying?
Advanced assumptions
Initial rent input: $1,100 from ZILLOW. Edit it to match the housing option you are considering.
Mortgage benchmark: 6.11% 30-year fixed, Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey via FRED, as of 2026-03-12. Not a lender quote or approval.
Property-tax input: State-level effective owner-occupied property-tax proxy Not a parcel or individual tax-bill estimate.

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Your Household FitNot calculated yet

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City details

Inspect the numbers when you need them.

Overall cost index87100 = U.S. baseline
Goods946% below baseline
Services946% below baseline
Utilities8812% below baseline
Frequently asked questions about Manhattan

Living in Manhattan

Is Manhattan, KS an affordable place to live?+

Yes — everyday expenses in Manhattan run about 13% below the US average (Cost Index: 87). Housing is especially affordable: the median home is valued around $243,700, compared to the $303,400 national median. Monthly rent is $1,100, versus $1,348 nationally.

How does Manhattan fit a household housing budget?+

Start with housing. Typical monthly rent is $1,100, while local median household income is $58,441. That implies a rent-burden proxy of about 23% before utilities and other costs. Use that as a planning signal for whether the place looks manageable under your own household assumptions.

How much are taxes in Manhattan, KS?+

Kansas uses an approximate state-income-tax planning model; 5.7% is top marginal-rate context from the tax snapshot. Applying the 1.41% state-level effective owner-occupied proxy to a home worth $243,700 gives a planning estimate near $3,436 per year; it is not a city, county, parcel, or individual tax bill. State plus average local sales-tax context is around 8.71%.

How much does it cost to rent in Manhattan, KS?+

The typical monthly rent in Manhattan is around $1,100. That's roughly 18% lower than the $1,348 national median. For comparison, the median home value here is $243,700, so buyers should also factor in mortgage payments, property taxes, and insurance.

How much does a house cost in Manhattan, KS?+

The typical home value in Manhattan is $243,700. With 20% down and the committed 6.11% national 30-year fixed benchmark as of 2026-03-12, principal and interest are roughly $1,183/month before property tax and insurance. This is a planning estimate, not a local lender quote. About 41% of residents here own their homes.

Are groceries and utilities expensive in Manhattan?+

Grocery prices in Manhattan are more affordable compared to the rest of the US (index: 94, where 100 is the national average). Utility bills (electricity, gas, water) are below average (index: 88). Both help keep your monthly expenses lower than in many parts of the country.

What is Manhattan, KS like to live in?+

Manhattan is a smaller city with a population of about 53,951. The median age of residents is 25.2, skewing younger — often a sign of a college town or fast-growing area. The local poverty rate is 26.12%, above the national average of 12.4%.