How expensive is Manhattan compared to the rest of the nonurban US?

Manhattan is one of the most expensive areas in the country to live in. other cities will charge 700 max for a nice sized apt, $6 for a movie ticket, and about roughly the same for everything else. Check out craiglist.org for other cities so you can compare housing. a 1000ft2 house in CT is 600K. the same house in Charlotte is about 200K. and if you go into the Midwest, it gets cheaper