City Comparison
Wichita vs Manhattan
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Manhattan scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Wichita
Manhattan
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Wichita is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
9% lower than in Manhattan.
Housing costs are a major driver: Wichita's average rent is
14% lower than Manhattan's.
| Metric | Wichita | Manhattan | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $950 | $1,100 | -14% |
| Groceries | $380 | $400 | -5% |
| Utilities | $170 | $180 | -6% |
| Transport | $110 | $110 | 0% |
| Healthcare | $220 | $230 | -4% |
| Monthly Total | $1,830 | $2,020 | -9% |
| Cost Index | 88 | 95 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Wichita offers similar average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Wichita delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Wichita is estimated at
$48,000 vs $50,000 in Manhattan.
| Metric | Wichita | Manhattan |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $58,000 | $58,000 |
| Salary Needed | $48,000 | $50,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 65,909 idx | 61,053 idx |
| Household Income | $65,200 | $62,500 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 1.5°F of each other.
Winter severity differs too — Manhattan sees 7.6 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Wichita | Manhattan |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 58.40°F | 56.90°F |
| Summer High | 87.20°F | 86.40°F |
| Winter Low | 23.60°F | 20.70°F |
| Rainfall | 35.90 in | 32.30 in |
| Snowfall | 7.90 in | 15.50 in |
| Sunny Days | 280 | 286 |
| Humidity | 65.00% | 68.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Manhattan has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
1,500 minutes (25 hours) per year compared to Wichita.
Manhattan scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Manhattan leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Wichita | Manhattan |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 19 min | 16 min |
| Transit Score | 35.0/100 | 42.0/100 |
| Walkability | 42.0/100 | 48.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 32.00 | 35.00 |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Wichita is the larger city
— approximately 7.3x the population of Manhattan.
From a growth perspective, Manhattan is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
| Metric | Wichita | Manhattan |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 397,532 | 54,100 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.40% | 0.80% |
| Median Age | 35.2 | 26.5 |
| Unemployment | 3.20% | 3.20% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Wichita
Advantages
Median home prices in Wichita are significantly lower than the national average, making homeownership highly accessible per Zillow data.
Average daily commute times are notably shorter than the U.S. average, reducing daily transit stress per Census Bureau reports.
The city offers a robust and growing arts and culinary scene, particularly in the historic Old Town and Delano districts.
Wichita serves as a major regional healthcare hub with world-class hospital systems like Ascension Via Christi and Wesley Medical Center.
Abundant green spaces, including the Arkansas River multi-use paths and Botanica Gardens, provide strong outdoor recreation options.
Drawbacks
The local economy experiences cyclical fluctuations due to its heavy reliance on the aerospace manufacturing sector.
Public transportation options are limited, resulting in a high degree of car dependency for daily commuting and errands.
Summer temperatures can be quite high and breezy, while winters occasionally bring unpredictable severe weather and ice storms.
Certain urban core neighborhoods experience higher property crime rates relative to suburban developments.
Voter-approved public transit and infrastructure funding have historically lagged behind growing metropolitan expansion needs.
Manhattan
Advantages
Cost of living sits approximately 5% below the national average per recent cost-of-living indices.
Exceptional public safety ratings with crime rates well below state and national medians.
Proximity to Tuttle Creek Lake offers vast outdoor recreation, boating, and hiking opportunities.
Vibrant arts, cultural events, and Division I Big 12 collegiate athletics anchored by K-State.
High educational attainment levels and strong local public school performance.
Drawbacks
Rental market can experience tight inventories and higher prices near the university campus.
Local economy is heavily reliant on the university and military base, creating vulnerability to state/federal budget shifts.
Limited commercial flight options out of Manhattan Regional Airport require driving to Kansas City for major travel.
Humid continental climate brings notably cold winter extremes and occasional severe spring weather.
Public transit options are somewhat limited outside of core fixed-route bus services.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Wichita
#290Kansas, USA
61.4 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$950
Avg Salary
$58,000
Cost Index
88
Commute
19 min
Transit Score
35.0/100
Walkability
42.0/100
Sunny Days
280/yr
Avg Temp
58.40°F
Pop. Growth
0.40%
Unemployment
3.20%
Livability
75
Business
70
Manhattan
#170Kansas, USA
64.6 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,100
Avg Salary
$58,000
Cost Index
95
Commute
16 min
Transit Score
42.0/100
Walkability
48.0/100
Sunny Days
286/yr
Avg Temp
56.90°F
Pop. Growth
0.80%
Unemployment
3.20%
Livability
77
Business
70
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