Cost of Living Comparison Between Hays, KS and Austin, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between Hays, KS and Austin, TX

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,770 in Hays, KS versus $2,695 in Austin, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,518 in Hays, KS versus $4,184 in Austin, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,267 in Hays, KS versus $5,674 in Austin, TX.

Living in Hays, KS costs roughly 34% less than in Austin, TX, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Hays, KS 29% above, Austin, TX 96% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.74 $13.74

$19.82 $19.82

-30.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.03 $43.03

$83.9 $83.9

-48.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.12 $8.12

$12.30 $12.30

-33.98%

Cappuccino

$3.96 $3.96

$5.48 $5.48

-27.74%

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

$2.30 $2.30

$3.72 $3.72

-38.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.97 $0.97

$2.36 $2.36

-58.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.79 $3.79

$7.76 $7.76

-51.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.17 $4.17

$9.14 $9.14

-54.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.76 $0.76

$1.13 $1.13

-32.74%

White Bread (500g)

$2.22 $2.22

$3.75 $3.75

-40.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.30 $4.30

$3.43 $3.43

25.36%

Eggs

$1.98 $1.98

$4.35 $4.35

-54.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.53 $4.53

$13.14 $13.14

-65.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.04 $8.04

$14.39 $14.39

-44.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.98 $12.98

$17.20 $17.20

-24.53%

Apples (1kg)

$6.01 $6.01

$4.49 $4.49

33.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.44 $1.44

19.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.84 $5.84

$4.67 $4.67

25.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.52 $4.52

$4.97 $4.97

-9.05%

Potato (1kg)

$2.95 $2.95

$3.00 $3.00

-1.67%

Onion (1kg)

$2.26 $2.26

$2.69 $2.69

-15.99%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.06 $2.06

$1.85 $1.85

11.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.06 $2.06

$2.18 $2.18

-5.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.41 $9.41

$9.45 $9.45

-0.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.10 $12.10

$15.11 $15.11

-19.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 $2.25

$2.89 $2.89

-22.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.84 $3.84

$3.49 $3.49

10.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.95 $1.95

$1.64 $1.64

18.90%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.44 $40.44

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.44 $2.44

$2.81 $2.81

-13.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.52 $1.52

$1.58 $1.58

-3.80%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$39.48 $39.48

$35.18 $35.18

12.22%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 $0.86

$0.90 $0.90

-4.44%

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

$37.0K $37.0K

$35.9K $35.9K

3.03%

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

$24.4K $24.4K

$27.7K $27.7K

-11.91%

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

$275 $275

$222 $222

24.05%

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

$34.52 $34.52

$58.3 $58.3

-40.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.9 $69.9

$69.1 $69.1

1.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.05 $42.05

$66.2 $66.2

-36.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.76 $14.76

Cinema Ticket

$14.91 $14.91

$13.78 $13.78

8.20%

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

$915 $915

$1,526 $1,526

-40.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.0K $16.0K

$21.2K $21.2K

-24.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.18 $24.18

$54.6 $54.6

-55.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.25 $40.25

$44.01 $44.01

-8.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$89.7 $89.7

13.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$152 $152

$109 $109

39.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$777 $777

$1,942 $1,942

-60.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$606 $606

$1,258 $1,258

-51.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,028 $1,028

$3,762 $3,762

-72.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$885 $885

$2,592 $2,592

-65.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,758 $2,758

$7,403 $7,403

-62.75%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,396 $2,396

$3,203 $3,203

-25.19%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,375 $2,375

$5,085 $5,085

-53.29%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.17

6.44

-4.19%

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

Last update for Hays, KS: August 30, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $777 in Hays, KS and $1,942 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 114% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $43.00 in Hays, KS vs $84.0 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $324 vs $417 per month, with Hays, KS cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Hays, KS vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Hays, KS wins on cost – living expenses run 52% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Hays, KS the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 114% lower in Austin, TX. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $777 in Hays, KS versus $1,942 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $915 in Hays, KS versus $1,526 in Austin, TX. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Hays, KS – a meal for two runs $43.00 versus $84.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,770 in Hays, KS versus $2,695 in Austin, TX, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Hays, KS but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Hays, KS the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Hays, KS and Austin, TX are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Hays, KS gentler on the wallet – expenses run 52% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.