Manitowoc, WI vs Jefferson City, MO: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Jefferson City, MO has a modeled overall cost index 2.7% lower than Manitowoc, WI.

Manitowoc, WI · modeled 2BR rent
$970 / month
Jefferson City, MO · modeled 2BR rent
$925 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Manitowoc, WI and Jefferson City, MO using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

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Estimated savings: $344/month in Jefferson City, MO

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $145,868 in Jefferson City, MO

Regional cost estimates: Manitowoc, WI uses Milwaukee, WI. Jefferson City, MO uses St. Louis, MO. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↓ 2.7%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$344
Savings
Annual Impact
$4.1K
Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Manitowoc, WI

Population:35K
Cost Index:
87.6
100 = national average
Typical Home:$228K

Jefferson City, MO

Population:43K
Cost Index:
85.2
100 = national average
Typical Home:$262K

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Manitowoc, WI

The Badger State

35K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Wisconsin, this city has a population of 35K residents.

Jefferson City, MO

The Show-Me State

43K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Missouri, this city has a population of 43K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Manitowoc, WI vs Jefferson City, MO

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Healthcare
↓ 26.1%
Manitowoc, WI
$788
Jefferson City, MO
$582
Difference
$206
less
Transportation
↓ 12.1%
Manitowoc, WI
$1,513
Jefferson City, MO
$1,330
Difference
$183
less
All Utilities
↑ 6.3%
Manitowoc, WI
$557
Jefferson City, MO
$592
Difference
$35.02
more
Other
↑ 1.7%
Manitowoc, WI
$1,729
Jefferson City, MO
$1,759
Difference
$30.01
more
Housing
↓ 1.0%
Manitowoc, WI
$1,862
Jefferson City, MO
$1,843
Difference
$18.87
less
Groceries
↓ 0.2%
Manitowoc, WI
$1,051
Jefferson City, MO
$1,050
Difference
$1.96
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$740
To$705
↓ $35.00
1 Bed
From$740
To$705
↓ $35.00
2 Bed
From$970
To$925
↓ $45.00
3 Bed
From$1,170
To$1,275
↑ $105
Manitowoc, WIZIP-level data

1BR range: $740–$740/mo

Jefferson City, MOZIP-level data

1BR range: $690–$720/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500
Monthly in Manitowoc, WI
$7,156
Monthly in Jefferson City, MO
$344
Difference

Home Values

Manitowoc
Jefferson City
$228K
Median Value
$262K
↑ +5%
YoY Change
↑ +6.2%
↑ +61.9%
5-Year Change
↑ +51.5%
$228K
Price Range
$255K - $270K

Homes in Jefferson City are 15% more expensive than Manitowoc

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↑ $921
Per year
Monthly Difference
$76.74
More take-home
Effective Rate Diff
0.6%
Rate difference

Manitowoc, WI

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Wisconsin State Tax
Effective: 5.9%
$8.8K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 30.6%
$45.9K
Take-Home Pay
$8,678/month
$104.1K

Jefferson City, MO

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Missouri State Tax
Effective: 5.3%
$7.9K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 30.0%
$44.9K
Take-Home Pay
$8,755/month
$105.1K

Additional Tax Information

Manitowoc, WI Tax Rates

Sales Tax:5.6%
Property Tax:1.8%

Jefferson City, MO Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.2%
Property Tax:1.0%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Manitowoc
Jefferson City
43 Good
Air Quality
54 Moderate
68.6%
Good Air Days
38%
98 High
Climate Risk
99 High
🌊🌡🌪
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🫨
▲+3.3°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.0°F
13 days
Heat Days >95°F
39 days
▲+3.3°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.0°F
13 days
Heat Days >95°F
39 days

Before moving from Manitowoc, WI to Jefferson City, MO

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Jefferson City, MO for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Manitowoc, WI. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
  2. Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
  3. Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
  4. Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Manitowoc to Jefferson City moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Jefferson City, MO by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Manitowoc, WI vs Jefferson City, MO

How do the cost estimates for Manitowoc, WI and Jefferson City, MO compare?

Jefferson City, MO has a modeled overall cost index 2.7% lower than Manitowoc, WI. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Manitowoc, WI, the model estimates $145,868 in Jefferson City, MO. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Manitowoc, WI and Jefferson City, MO?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $970/month in Manitowoc, WI and $925/month in Jefferson City, MO. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between Wisconsin and Missouri on TaxTakeHome.com

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