Manhattan, KS vs Topeka, KS: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, Topeka, KS is 1.5% less expensive than Manhattan, KS (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Manhattan works out to about $73,900 in Topeka, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is housing, which costs 9.7% less in Topeka. Goods are 0.0% higher and other services 0.0% higher.
- Typical asking rent is $1,250 a month in Topeka and $1,262 in Manhattan, nearly the same (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $217,000 in Topeka and $268,000 in Manhattan.
- The gap is about where it was in 2019 (2.4%).
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: 9.7% lower in Topeka than in Manhattan
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Manhattan, KS
- Topeka, KS
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Manhattan, KS | Topeka, KS | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 90.2 | 88.8 |
| Goods | 94.0 | 94.0 |
| Housing (rents) | 72.0 | 65.0 |
| Utilities | 88.4 | 88.9 |
| Other services | 93.8 | 93.8 |
| Category | Manhattan | Topeka | Topeka vs Manhattan |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 90.2 | 88.8 | −1.5% |
| Goods | 94.0 | 94.0 | 0.0% |
| Housing (rents) | 72.0 | 65.0 | −9.7% |
| Utilities | 88.4 | 88.9 | +0.7% |
| Other services | 93.8 | 93.8 | 0.0% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,262 | $1,250 | −1.0% |
| Typical home value | $268,000 | $217,000 | −19.1% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Manhattan | $75,000 | $73,900 | −1.5% |
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 Topeka has narrowed since 2008: 5.6 points then, 1.3 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Manhattan, KS
- Topeka, KS
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Manhattan, KS | Topeka, KS | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 85.8 | 91.5 |
| 2009 | 88.6 | 92.6 |
| 2010 | 93.0 | 93.0 |
| 2011 | 92.6 | 92.0 |
| 2012 | 94.5 | 91.6 |
| 2013 | 94.8 | 91.6 |
| 2014 | 94.7 | 92.4 |
| 2015 | 91.5 | 90.3 |
| 2016 | 89.5 | 89.9 |
| 2017 | 90.7 | 89.2 |
| 2018 | 93.7 | 91.8 |
| 2019 | 93.0 | 90.8 |
| 2020 | 91.7 | 90.1 |
| 2021 | 90.7 | 89.3 |
| 2022 | 89.4 | 87.3 |
| 2023 | 90.2 | 85.8 |
| 2024 | 90.2 | 88.8 |
Goods
- Manhattan, KS
- Topeka, KS
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Manhattan, KS | Topeka, KS | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 78.3 | 93.1 |
| 2009 | 85.2 | 94.6 |
| 2010 | 93.9 | 95.8 |
| 2011 | 94.4 | 95.7 |
| 2012 | 95.3 | 96.7 |
| 2013 | 94.2 | 96.2 |
| 2014 | 95.1 | 97.4 |
| 2015 | 95.5 | 97.1 |
| 2016 | 94.2 | 96.2 |
| 2017 | 93.7 | 95.0 |
| 2018 | 95.0 | 95.0 |
| 2019 | 97.1 | 97.1 |
| 2020 | 95.9 | 95.9 |
| 2021 | 93.8 | 93.8 |
| 2022 | 93.6 | 93.6 |
| 2023 | 96.5 | 96.5 |
| 2024 | 94.0 | 94.0 |
Housing (rents)
- Manhattan, KS
- Topeka, KS
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Manhattan, KS | Topeka, KS | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 80.4 | 70.2 |
| 2009 | 81.1 | 72.7 |
| 2010 | 87.3 | 73.7 |
| 2011 | 92.1 | 75.8 |
| 2012 | 95.6 | 70.8 |
| 2013 | 100.2 | 69.4 |
| 2014 | 98.4 | 73.0 |
| 2015 | 89.0 | 68.6 |
| 2016 | 81.0 | 66.7 |
| 2017 | 89.2 | 66.6 |
| 2018 | 80.7 | 69.4 |
| 2019 | 76.5 | 63.2 |
| 2020 | 70.7 | 63.7 |
| 2021 | 67.7 | 61.9 |
| 2022 | 70.9 | 59.5 |
| 2023 | 71.8 | 53.4 |
| 2024 | 72.0 | 65.0 |
Utilities
- Manhattan, KS
- Topeka, KS
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Manhattan, KS | Topeka, KS | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 79.6 | 90.5 |
| 2009 | 81.1 | 93.7 |
| 2010 | 87.4 | 90.9 |
| 2011 | 79.8 | 90.7 |
| 2012 | 80.5 | 90.9 |
| 2013 | 84.2 | 93.1 |
| 2014 | 85.4 | 88.4 |
| 2015 | 85.6 | 87.8 |
| 2016 | 90.9 | 88.2 |
| 2017 | 91.8 | 94.3 |
| 2018 | 104.0 | 104.2 |
| 2019 | 100.5 | 100.6 |
| 2020 | 101.6 | 102.2 |
| 2021 | 100.6 | 102.1 |
| 2022 | 103.2 | 104.6 |
| 2023 | 91.1 | 91.6 |
| 2024 | 88.4 | 88.9 |
Other services
- Manhattan, KS
- Topeka, KS
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Manhattan, KS | Topeka, KS | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 94.7 | 98.7 |
| 2009 | 94.5 | 98.6 |
| 2010 | 94.9 | 98.1 |
| 2011 | 92.6 | 95.4 |
| 2012 | 94.7 | 96.2 |
| 2013 | 94.1 | 96.6 |
| 2014 | 93.9 | 96.0 |
| 2015 | 90.4 | 93.8 |
| 2016 | 89.7 | 94.2 |
| 2017 | 89.3 | 93.6 |
| 2018 | 97.0 | 97.0 |
| 2019 | 97.0 | 97.0 |
| 2020 | 97.1 | 97.1 |
| 2021 | 96.6 | 96.6 |
| 2022 | 92.9 | 92.9 |
| 2023 | 93.0 | 93.0 |
| 2024 | 93.8 | 93.8 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $1,250 in Topeka vs $1,262 in Manhattan
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Manhattan, KS
- Topeka, KS
- 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 | Topeka, KS | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $937 | $711 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $928 | $729 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $929 | $721 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $916 | $722 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $927 | $722 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $923 | $745 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $926 | $758 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $907 | $742 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $937 | $733 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $920 | $754 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $916 | $759 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $930 | $755 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $937 | $754 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $927 | $774 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $912 | $778 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $948 | $779 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $939 | $785 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $926 | $815 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $912 | $828 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $945 | $808 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $947 | $829 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $938 | $826 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $940 | $833 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $960 | $850 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $972 | $846 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $975 | $891 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $980 | $919 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $1,002 | $940 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,016 | $978 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,023 | $997 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,044 | $1,016 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,048 | $1,027 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,049 | $1,042 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,073 | $1,077 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,073 | $1,074 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,097 | $1,086 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,104 | $1,089 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,121 | $1,120 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,153 | $1,146 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,157 | $1,148 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,177 | $1,177 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,196 | $1,191 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,217 | $1,199 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,236 | $1,222 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,242 | $1,229 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,257 | $1,255 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,262 | $1,250 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $217,000 in Topeka vs $268,000 in Manhattan
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Manhattan, KS
- Topeka, KS
- 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 | Topeka, KS | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $165K | $109K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $167K | $110K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $170K | $111K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $171K | $112K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $171K | $113K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $171K | $113K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $170K | $112K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $172K | $114K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $175K | $115K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $177K | $116K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $178K | $118K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $179K | $119K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $181K | $121K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $182K | $123K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $181K | $125K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $181K | $126K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $182K | $128K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $184K | $130K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $185K | $131K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $187K | $134K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $189K | $136K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $189K | $139K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $192K | $144K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $195K | $149K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $199K | $152K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $207K | $158K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $211K | $164K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $213K | $168K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $219K | $174K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $225K | $181K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $227K | $184K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $227K | $185K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $231K | $187K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $232K | $192K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $233K | $196K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $234K | $197K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $236K | $199K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $239K | $205K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $242K | $208K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $248K | $211K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $253K | $212K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $255K | $211K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $260K | $214K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $263K | $214K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $266K | $214K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $266K | $215K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $268K | $217K | $366K |
More about each city
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.