Relocation profile · Federal data
Manhattan, KS
BEA RPP 90.2 ranks #101 of 387 scored metros for lower prices (cheaper third).
- 90.2
- Cost index (US=100)
- $1,048
- 2BR rent / mo
- $60,825
- Median salary
- 54.7
- LiveAbility Score
The verdict
As of June 2026, Manhattan ranks #133 of 387 US metros on the LiveAbility Score (54.7/100), with its strongest marks in housing and climate.
- #133
- of 387 US metros · Above median
- 2,970,606
- metro-area population
- 456
- violent crimes per 100K (state-level)
- 1,354
- schools in the state (NCES)
Weakest dimension: low hazard (15/100). Weigh every dimension against your own priorities, use the City Finder to re-rank by what matters to you.
According to PlainRelocate's LiveAbility composite (BEA, BLS, HUD, FBI, NCES, EPA, NOAA, and FEMA inputs), Manhattan ranks #133 of 387 scored US metros by LiveAbility Score (highest score = #1). Cost-of-living index 90.2 (100 = national average), median 2-bedroom rent $1,048/mo, median salary $60,825; LiveAbility Score 54.7/100, strongest in housing and climate.
Signature: BEA RPP 90.2 ranks #101 of 387 scored metros for lower prices (cheaper third).
Purchasing power opens up: BEA RPP 90.2 lands in the cheaper third of scored metros (cuts at 91.5 / 97.0). Median 2BR rent $1,048/mo.
LiveAbility 54.7/100 keeps Manhattan in the middle third (#133 of 387).
BLS OEWS total employment in the Manhattan area is 45,880.
Manhattan vs all US metros by LiveAbility Score
Where this metro's LiveAbility Score falls among every scored US metro (composite placement, not a desirability verdict)
55 Top 35% higher than 65% of 387 US metros
Metros banded by LiveAbility Score (0–100)
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US metros. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source PlainRelocate LiveAbility Score · June 2026
Manhattan housing and rent
HUD Fair Market Rents for the Manhattan MSA; housing RPP 72.0 (100 = national average); 2BR $1,048/mo.
Manhattan wages and employment
Manhattan posts 45,880 total employment with median salary $60,825 against a cheaper-than-average RPP.
Top Occupations by Employment
| Occupation | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $27,130 |
| Cashiers | $27,870 |
| Retail Salespersons | $29,540 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $40,460 |
| Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary | $31,020 |
Schools & Education
State-level education data for the Manhattan area from NCES.
Childcare Costs
State-average childcare costs for the Manhattan area (DOL data).
Life Score Breakdown
Manhattan's composite Life Score is 56.4/100 (C-), computed across 7 of 7 dimensions.
LiveAbility Score
View full rankings →Manhattan ranks #133 out of 387 metros with a LiveAbility Score of 54.7/100 - a composite of 7 of 8 quality-of-life dimensions from federal data (missing dims omitted; remaining weights renormalized). Customize the weights to match your priorities →
Manhattan - dimension scores
Percentile vs all US metros (100 = best in the nation for that dimension)
- Housing
Housing
88 /100
- Climate
Climate
79 /100
- Cost of living
Cost of living
74 /100
- Schools
Schools
70 /100
- Job market 31
Job market
31 /100
- Safety 16
Safety
16 /100
- Low hazard 15
Low hazard
15 /100
What this shows Manhattan's strongest dimensions are housing and climate; its weakest among scored dims is low hazard at 15/100. Default weights: cost 18%, jobs & housing 15% each, safety & schools 12%, air & hazard 10%, climate 8%; this metro uses 7 of 8 dims with renormalized weights.
Compare Manhattan to
Metros near Manhattan on cost, LiveAbility, or wages
Nearest out-of-state neighbors to Manhattan on BEA RPP, LiveAbility, or BLS median salary, a different lens than the size-ranked list.
Similar cost of living (BEA RPP)
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA June 2026
Manhattan cost figures follow BEA Regional Price Parities and HUD Fair Market Rents; Manhattan wages and LiveAbility inputs follow BLS OEWS plus the federal sources listed in methodology. This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Scores are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation. How this data is sourced.
Verify with BEA → · Verify with BLS → · Verify with HUD → · Verify with NOAA → · Verify with FEMA → · Verify with Census →
Thinking about Manhattan?
Manhattan runs a $60,825 median salary at a 90.2 cost index, ranking #133 of 387 nationally on LiveAbility.
- See exactly what Manhattan's pay and cost figures mean for your own budget. Salary calculator
- Put Manhattan head-to-head against another city on the same dimensions. Compare Manhattan
- Abilene is the closest related metro in this corpus -- see how it stacks up. Abilene profile
- A cheaper cost index and a higher LiveAbility score don't always point the same direction -- here's how to weigh the trade-off. Cost vs quality guide
Cost, salary and score figures are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation.