City Comparison

Manhattan vs Peoria

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Manhattan

New York
235
Very Expensive
$1.1M
Median Home
$4,200/mo
Median Rent
$93,651
Median Income

Peoria

Illinois
76
Very Affordable
$164,000
Median Home
$1,000/mo
Median Rent
$58,700
Median Income

The Verdict

209.2%

The cost gap between these cities is 209.2%, with Peoria being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Manhattan has equivalent purchasing power to $24,255 in Peoria.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
421
Manhattan
42
Peoria
Groceries
115
Manhattan
97
Peoria
Utilities
142
Manhattan
103
Peoria
Transportation
94
Manhattan
108
Peoria
Healthcare
112
Manhattan
107
Peoria

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Manhattan has the same purchasing power as $24,255 in Peoria.

Conversely, $75,000 in Peoria equals $231,908 in Manhattan.

Living in Manhattan vs Peoria

Housing Costs

Manhattan's housing index of 421 is higher Peoria's 42, translating to median home prices of $1.1M vs $164,000. The $986,000 difference in home prices means roughly $64,092 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $4,200/mo in Manhattan compared to $1,000/mo in Peoria, a monthly difference of $3,200.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 115 in Manhattan and 97 in Peoria. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $546/month in Manhattan vs $461/month in Peoria. Peoria offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $1020/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 142 in Manhattan and 103 in Peoria. Monthly utility bills average approximately $568 in Manhattan vs $412 in Peoria. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 112 in Manhattan and 107 in Peoria. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $93,651 in Manhattan and $58,700 in Peoria. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $39,851 and $77,237 respectively. Peoria residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,185/month to housing in Manhattan vs $1,370/month in Peoria. In Manhattan, median rent of $4,200/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Peoria, median rent of $1,000/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 379 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Peoria is 209.2% more affordable overall with an index of 76 vs 235.
A $75,000 salary in Manhattan has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $24,255 in Peoria, based on the cost of living difference.
Manhattan's housing index is 421 with median homes at $1.1M, while Peoria's is 42 with median homes at $164,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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