Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Hays, KS Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Hays, KS

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 43.5% more expensive than Hays, KS without rent, and 13.9% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 67.4% more expensive than Hays, KS without rent, and 30.1% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$14.83 $14.83

40.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$44.23 $44.23

126.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$10.14 $10.14

18.05%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$4.62 $4.62

20.35%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.11 $3.11

$2.5 $2.5

24.40%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$0.97 $0.97

149.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$3.57 $3.57

92.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$4.6 $4.6

83.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.93 $0.93

11.83%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$3.63 $3.63

14.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$4.48 $4.48

23.21%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$3.95 $3.95

17.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$9.67 $9.67

48.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$7.57 $7.57

96.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$17.98 $17.98

7.56%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$5.49 $5.49

-5.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.58 $1.58

8.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$5.11 $5.11

-13.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$4.66 $4.66

-3.22%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.67 $2.67

-5.24%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.73 $2.73

0.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.97 $1.97

23.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$1.81 $1.81

49.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$9.27 $9.27

63.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$12.16 $12.16

35.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.23 $2.23

5.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$3.89 $3.89

-4.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.99 $1.99

27.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$2.54 $2.54

31.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.58 $1.58

-10.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$26.61 $26.61

-4.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.8 $0.8

35.00%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$32.4K $32.4K

$28.1K $28.1K

15.48%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.2K $26.2K

$24K $24K

9.47%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$188 $188

$317 $317

-40.54%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$63.7 $63.7

$54.3 $54.3

17.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$74.1 $74.1

-12.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$43.55 $43.55

76.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$12.92 $12.92

15.56%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$2,063 $2,063

$902 $902

128.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$16.3K $16.3K

140.82%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$46.08 $46.08

39.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$39.17 $39.17

33.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$108 $108

-12.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$111 $111

30.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,584 $1,584

50.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,338 $1,338

18.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$2,578 $2,578

84.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$2,216 $2,216

27.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$2,495 $2,495

43.81%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$2,276 $2,276

9.42%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$2,370 $2,370

122.56%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.52

1.23%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Hays, KS: October 29, 2025

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