Manhattan, KS vs Kansas City, MO: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, Kansas City, MO is 2.6% more expensive than Manhattan, KS (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Manhattan works out to about $77,000 in Kansas City, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is housing, which costs 20.4% more in Kansas City. Goods are 0.1% higher and other services 0.5% lower.
- Typical asking rent is $1,534 a month in Kansas City and $1,262 in Manhattan, $3,264 a year more in Kansas City (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $325,000 in Kansas City and $268,000 in Manhattan.
- The gap is about where it was in 2019 (2.1%).
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) and Zillow data. Based on an average household's spending; taxes not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both cities against the US average (100). The gap in each row is what matters for a move.
Housing drives the gap: 20.4% higher in Kansas City than in Manhattan
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Manhattan, KS
- Kansas City, MO
All items Manhattan, KS: 90.2 Kansas City, MO: 92.5
Goods Manhattan, KS: 94.0 Kansas City, MO: 94.1
Housing (rents) Manhattan, KS: 72.0 Kansas City, MO: 86.6
Utilities Manhattan, KS: 88.4 Kansas City, MO: 89.0
Other services Manhattan, KS: 93.8 Kansas City, MO: 93.4
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Manhattan, KS | Kansas City, MO | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 90.2 | 92.5 |
| Goods | 94.0 | 94.1 |
| Housing (rents) | 72.0 | 86.6 |
| Utilities | 88.4 | 89.0 |
| Other services | 93.8 | 93.4 |
| Category | Manhattan | Kansas City | Kansas City vs Manhattan |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 90.2 | 92.5 | +2.6% |
| Goods | 94.0 | 94.1 | +0.1% |
| Housing (rents) | 72.0 | 86.6 | +20.4% |
| Utilities | 88.4 | 89.0 | +0.8% |
| Other services | 93.8 | 93.4 | −0.5% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,262 | $1,534 | +21.6% |
| Typical home value | $268,000 | $325,000 | +21.2% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Manhattan | $75,000 | $77,000 | +2.6% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent and home values: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Manhattan and Kansas City has narrowed since 2008: 7.2 points then, 2.4 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Manhattan, KS
- Kansas City, MO
US average = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Manhattan, KS | Kansas City, MO | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 85.8 | 93.1 |
| 2009 | 88.6 | 95.0 |
| 2010 | 93.0 | 96.0 |
| 2011 | 92.6 | 96.6 |
| 2012 | 94.5 | 96.9 |
| 2013 | 94.8 | 95.8 |
| 2014 | 94.7 | 97.1 |
| 2015 | 91.5 | 98.6 |
| 2016 | 89.5 | 97.2 |
| 2017 | 90.7 | 96.9 |
| 2018 | 93.7 | 94.2 |
| 2019 | 93.0 | 94.9 |
| 2020 | 91.7 | 95.0 |
| 2021 | 90.7 | 93.6 |
| 2022 | 89.4 | 92.0 |
| 2023 | 90.2 | 93.2 |
| 2024 | 90.2 | 92.5 |
Goods
- Manhattan, KS
- Kansas City, MO
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Manhattan, KS | Kansas City, MO | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 78.3 | 92.4 |
| 2009 | 85.2 | 98.9 |
| 2010 | 93.9 | 96.0 |
| 2011 | 94.4 | 96.6 |
| 2012 | 95.3 | 97.8 |
| 2013 | 94.2 | 97.5 |
| 2014 | 95.1 | 97.4 |
| 2015 | 95.5 | 98.8 |
| 2016 | 94.2 | 97.8 |
| 2017 | 93.7 | 98.0 |
| 2018 | 95.0 | 95.1 |
| 2019 | 97.1 | 97.1 |
| 2020 | 95.9 | 95.8 |
| 2021 | 93.8 | 94.0 |
| 2022 | 93.6 | 93.7 |
| 2023 | 96.5 | 96.6 |
| 2024 | 94.0 | 94.1 |
Housing (rents)
- Manhattan, KS
- Kansas City, MO
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Manhattan, KS | Kansas City, MO | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 80.4 | 88.8 |
| 2009 | 81.1 | 85.3 |
| 2010 | 87.3 | 88.2 |
| 2011 | 92.1 | 87.3 |
| 2012 | 95.6 | 85.3 |
| 2013 | 100.2 | 86.9 |
| 2014 | 98.4 | 84.1 |
| 2015 | 89.0 | 87.1 |
| 2016 | 81.0 | 85.3 |
| 2017 | 89.2 | 85.4 |
| 2018 | 80.7 | 83.3 |
| 2019 | 76.5 | 84.6 |
| 2020 | 70.7 | 87.6 |
| 2021 | 67.7 | 84.8 |
| 2022 | 70.9 | 85.6 |
| 2023 | 71.8 | 88.0 |
| 2024 | 72.0 | 86.6 |
Utilities
- Manhattan, KS
- Kansas City, MO
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Manhattan, KS | Kansas City, MO | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 79.6 | 86.3 |
| 2009 | 81.1 | 88.8 |
| 2010 | 87.4 | 90.3 |
| 2011 | 79.8 | 90.4 |
| 2012 | 80.5 | 85.6 |
| 2013 | 84.2 | 86.1 |
| 2014 | 85.4 | 83.8 |
| 2015 | 85.6 | 95.4 |
| 2016 | 90.9 | 95.8 |
| 2017 | 91.8 | 101.0 |
| 2018 | 104.0 | 99.2 |
| 2019 | 100.5 | 97.9 |
| 2020 | 101.6 | 99.0 |
| 2021 | 100.6 | 97.1 |
| 2022 | 103.2 | 98.0 |
| 2023 | 91.1 | 91.4 |
| 2024 | 88.4 | 89.0 |
Other services
- Manhattan, KS
- Kansas City, MO
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Manhattan, KS | Kansas City, MO | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 94.7 | 95.3 |
| 2009 | 94.5 | 95.7 |
| 2010 | 94.9 | 98.8 |
| 2011 | 92.6 | 99.8 |
| 2012 | 94.7 | 100.6 |
| 2013 | 94.1 | 98.2 |
| 2014 | 93.9 | 102.0 |
| 2015 | 90.4 | 102.2 |
| 2016 | 89.7 | 100.6 |
| 2017 | 89.3 | 99.4 |
| 2018 | 97.0 | 96.6 |
| 2019 | 97.0 | 96.6 |
| 2020 | 97.1 | 96.7 |
| 2021 | 96.6 | 95.8 |
| 2022 | 92.9 | 92.3 |
| 2023 | 93.0 | 92.6 |
| 2024 | 93.8 | 93.4 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $1,534 in Kansas City vs $1,262 in Manhattan
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Manhattan, KS
- Kansas City, MO
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Manhattan, KS | Kansas City, MO | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $937 | $868 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $928 | $881 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $929 | $888 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $916 | $885 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $927 | $898 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $923 | $910 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $926 | $923 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $907 | $922 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $937 | $934 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $920 | $953 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $916 | $960 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $930 | $963 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $937 | $972 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $927 | $990 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $912 | $993 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $948 | $992 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $939 | $1,009 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $926 | $1,031 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $912 | $1,032 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $945 | $1,031 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $947 | $1,050 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $938 | $1,072 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $940 | $1,092 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $960 | $1,083 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $972 | $1,109 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $975 | $1,156 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $980 | $1,179 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $1,002 | $1,192 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,016 | $1,219 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,023 | $1,269 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,044 | $1,293 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,048 | $1,288 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,049 | $1,307 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,073 | $1,344 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,073 | $1,348 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,097 | $1,356 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,104 | $1,374 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,121 | $1,408 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,153 | $1,419 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,157 | $1,412 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,177 | $1,445 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,196 | $1,470 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,217 | $1,477 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,236 | $1,472 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,242 | $1,490 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,257 | $1,519 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,262 | $1,534 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $325,000 in Kansas City vs $268,000 in Manhattan
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Manhattan, KS
- Kansas City, MO
- United States
Source: Zillow Home Value Index (typical home value, middle tier, smoothed, seasonally adjusted), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Manhattan, KS | Kansas City, MO | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $165K | $152K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $167K | $154K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $170K | $157K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $171K | $160K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $171K | $163K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $171K | $166K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $170K | $169K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $172K | $172K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $175K | $176K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $177K | $180K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $178K | $182K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $179K | $185K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $181K | $190K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $182K | $194K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $181K | $197K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $181K | $199K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $182K | $202K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $184K | $205K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $185K | $205K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $187K | $208K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $189K | $213K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $189K | $216K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $192K | $221K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $195K | $232K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $199K | $241K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $207K | $254K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $211K | $258K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $213K | $260K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $219K | $273K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $225K | $285K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $227K | $285K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $227K | $284K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $231K | $286K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $232K | $292K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $233K | $297K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $234K | $299K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $236K | $301K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $239K | $304K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $242K | $306K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $248K | $309K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $253K | $311K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $255K | $310K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $260K | $313K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $263K | $317K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $266K | $320K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $266K | $321K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $268K | $325K | $366K |
More about each city
- Cost of living in Manhattan, KS
- Cost of living in Kansas City, MO
- Reverse: moving from Kansas City to Manhattan
Related comparisons
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State and local income, sales and property taxes can change the result a lot, especially between states.
- Neighborhoods. These are metro-wide averages; a city center and its outer suburbs can differ by more than two metros do.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider above if rent is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels are for 2024; Zillow figures are monthly and newer.