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

🙂 Solo nomad: Hays, KS is 30.3% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 12.2% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Hays, KS is 40.3% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 23.1% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.83 $14.83

$20.82 $20.82

-28.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.23 $44.23

$100 $100

-55.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.14 $10.14

$11.97 $11.97

-15.29%

Cappuccino

$4.62 $4.62

$5.56 $5.56

-16.91%

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

$2.5 $2.5

$3.11 $3.11

-19.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.97 $0.97

$2.42 $2.42

-59.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.57 $3.57

$6.86 $6.86

-47.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.6 $4.6

$8.45 $8.45

-45.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.93 $0.93

$1.04 $1.04

-10.58%

White Bread (500g)

$3.63 $3.63

$4.15 $4.15

-12.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.48 $4.48

$5.52 $5.52

-18.84%

Eggs

$3.95 $3.95

$4.65 $4.65

-15.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.67 $9.67

$14.33 $14.33

-32.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.57 $7.57

$14.88 $14.88

-49.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.98 $17.98

$19.34 $19.34

-7.03%

Apples (1kg)

$5.49 $5.49

$5.17 $5.17

6.19%

Banana (1kg)

$1.58 $1.58

$1.71 $1.71

-7.60%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.11 $5.11

$4.41 $4.41

15.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.66 $4.66

$4.51 $4.51

3.33%

Potato (1kg)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.53 $2.53

5.53%

Onion (1kg)

$2.73 $2.73

$2.74 $2.74

-0.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.97 $1.97

$2.43 $2.43

-18.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.81 $1.81

$2.7 $2.7

-32.96%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.27 $9.27

$15.19 $15.19

-38.97%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.16 $12.16

$16.42 $16.42

-25.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.23 $2.23

$2.35 $2.35

-5.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.89 $3.89

$3.7 $3.7

5.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.99 $1.99

$2.53 $2.53

-21.34%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.54 $2.54

$3.34 $3.34

-23.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.58 $1.58

$1.42 $1.42

11.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$26.61 $26.61

$25.42 $25.42

4.68%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.8 $0.8

$1.08 $1.08

-25.93%

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

$28.1K $28.1K

$32.4K $32.4K

-13.40%

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

$24K $24K

$26.2K $26.2K

-8.65%

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

$317 $317

$188 $188

68.18%

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

$54.3 $54.3

$63.7 $63.7

-14.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.1 $74.1

$65.2 $65.2

13.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.55 $43.55

$76.7 $76.7

-43.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$12.92 $12.92

$14.93 $14.93

-13.46%

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

$902 $902

$2,063 $2,063

-56.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.3K $16.3K

$39.2K $39.2K

-58.48%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.08 $46.08

$64.3 $64.3

-28.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.17 $39.17

$52.4 $52.4

-25.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$108 $108

$95.2 $95.2

13.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 $111

$145 $145

-23.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$2,378 $2,378

-33.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,338 $1,338

$1,584 $1,584

-15.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,578 $2,578

$4,763 $4,763

-45.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,216 $2,216

$2,815 $2,815

-21.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,495 $2,495

$3,588 $3,588

-30.46%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,276 $2,276

$2,490 $2,490

-8.61%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,370 $2,370

$5,275 $5,275

-55.07%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.52

6.6

-1.21%

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

Last update for Hays, KS: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Similar cities

Barcelona

🇪🇸 Spain

Athens

🇬🇷 Greece

Madrid

🇪🇸 Spain

Hong Kong

🇭🇰 Hong Kong (China)

Tallinn

🇪🇪 Estonia

Brisbane

🇦🇺 Australia

Seoul

🇰🇷 South Korea

Perth

🇦🇺 Australia