Cost of Living in Manhattan, KS
Manhattan, KS — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Manhattan, KS to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
How expensive is Manhattan, KS?
With a price level of 90.2 (U.S. average = 100), Manhattan, KS is cheaper than average. In detail, housing costs are 28% below average; everyday goods are 6% below average; utilities are 12% below average; other services such as healthcare and dining are 6% below average. The biggest difference from the national average is in housing.
Prices in Manhattan, KS vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 90.2 | −9.8% |
| Housing | 72.0 | −28.0% |
| Goods | 94.0 | −6.0% |
| Utilities | 88.4 | −11.6% |
| Other services | 93.8 | −6.2% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Manhattan, KS
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $863 | $34,520/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $868 | $34,720/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,063 | $42,520/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,478 | $59,120/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,783 | $71,320/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Salary needed to live in Manhattan, KS
To keep the same standard of living as in an average-priced U.S. city, you would need to earn roughly:
| Salary in an average U.S. city | Equivalent in Manhattan, KS | Take-home here |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $36,100 | $29,972 |
| $60,000 | $54,100 | $43,430 |
| $80,000 | $72,100 | $56,329 |
| $100,000 | $90,200 | $68,052 |
| $150,000 | $135,200 | $96,931 |
Scaled by the BEA price level (pre-tax). Take-home: single filer, Kansas 2026 taxes. For a tax-aware comparison with a specific city, use the calculator above.
A monthly budget on the median wage
A single worker earning Manhattan, KS's median wage of $45,900 takes home about $3,108 a month. A typical one-bedroom rents for $868, which is 28% of take-home pay — within the 30% guideline that financial planners suggest. That leaves about $2,240 a month for everything else.
Take-home pay in Manhattan, KS
- Federal income tax$3,328
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,846
- Medicare (1.45%)$666
- Kansas income tax$1,762
- Take-home pay$37,299
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.58% state
Pay and living costs in Kansas cities
Half of Kansas’s 1,437,520 workers earn less than $48,010 a year and half earn more; the middle 50% earn $35,880–$72,280 (BLS, May 2025). Prices vary a lot within the state: Topeka, KS stretches a paycheck furthest, while Manhattan, KS is the costliest.
| Metro area | Median pay | Price level | 1-BR rent | Rent share | Left after rent / mo | Buying power* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City, MO | $50,820 | 92.5 | $1,193 | 35% | $2,222 | $44,280 |
| Wichita, KS | $47,630 | 88.9 | $848 | 26% | $2,368 | $43,389 |
| Topeka, KS | $49,540 | 88.8 | $820 | 25% | $2,515 | $45,058 |
| Joplin, MO | $44,980 | 85.7 | $756 | 25% | $2,295 | $42,711 |
| St. Joseph, MO | $47,350 | 86.4 | $832 | 26% | $2,367 | $44,434 |
| Manhattan, KS | $45,900 | 90.2 | $868 | 28% | $2,240 | $41,369 |
| Lawrence, KS | $47,390 | 90.2 | $1,006 | 31% | $2,195 | $42,566 |
*Yearly take-home pay (on each metro’s median wage, single filer) in U.S.-average dollars. Price level: BEA RPP 2024 (U.S. = 100). Rent: HUD FY2026 one-bedroom fair market rent.
Manhattan, KS vs. similar-size cities
| Metro area | Price level | 1-BR rent | Median wage | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manhattan, KS | 90.2 | $868 | $45,900 | 53,500 |
| Lebanon, PA | 93.2 | $1,112 | $46,500 | 53,710 |
| Salisbury, MD | 95.6 | $1,031 | $48,710 | 53,770 |
| Valdosta, GA | 88.3 | $921 | $39,110 | 53,890 |
| Sherman, TX | 93.8 | $1,089 | $44,610 | 52,690 |
| St. Joseph, MO | 86.4 | $832 | $47,350 | 54,390 |
| Mount Vernon, WA | 102.4 | $1,311 | $59,590 | 52,600 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Manhattan, KS expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Manhattan, KS metro area are 90.2% of the U.S. average, with housing at 72.0%. It is the #287 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Manhattan, KS?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $54,097 in Manhattan, KS (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $45,900.
Can you afford Manhattan, KS on the median wage?
A single worker on the $45,900 median wage takes home about $3,108 a month after 2026 taxes; a one-bedroom at $868 would take 28% of that.
How much is rent in Manhattan, KS?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Manhattan, KS are $863 for a studio, $868 for one bedroom, $1,063 for two bedrooms and $1,478 for three bedrooms, including utilities.