Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Hays, KS and San Jose

For one person, living is cheaper in Hays, KS: $1,737 a month against $1,924 in San Jose, rent and utilities included – about $2,200 less a year. The total is higher in San Jose despite lower rent and utilities.

85

Cost of Living Index in Hays, KS
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Hays, KS Living Index
93

Cost of Living Index in San Jose
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San Jose Living Index

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Hays, KS

🇺🇸 United States

$1,737

/mo nomad

San Jose

🇨🇷 Costa Rica

$1,924

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Hays, KS and in San Jose

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Hays, KS and in San Jose actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,737 per month in Hays, KS vs $1,924 in San Jose, rent included.

Hays, KS $1,737
San Jose $1,924

A couple spends around $2,467 per month in Hays, KS vs $2,926 in San Jose, rent included.

Hays, KS $2,467
San Jose $2,926

A family of three spends $3,198 per month in Hays, KS vs $3,929 in San Jose, rent included.

Hays, KS $3,198
San Jose $3,929

Hays, KS is about 10% cheaper than San Jose, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Hays, KS and San Jose sit above the global median – Hays, KS by 28%, San Jose by 42%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.33 $13.33

$12.29 ₡5,513

8.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.87 $43.87

$62.3 ₡27.9K

-29.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.11 $8.11

$11.53 ₡5,171

-29.66%

Cappuccino

$3.98 $3.98

$4.35 ₡1,953

-8.51%

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

$2.39 $2.39

$2.64 ₡1,183

-9.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.02 $1.02

$1.86 ₡836

-45.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.85 $3.85

$3.32 ₡1,490

15.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.33 $4.33

$4.52 ₡2,026

-4.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.76 $0.76

$2.39 ₡1,073

-68.20%

White Bread (500g)

$2.26 $2.26

$3.08 ₡1,381

-26.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.46 $4.46

$2.50 ₡1,119

78.40%

Eggs

$2.06 $2.06

$3.48 ₡1,562

-40.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.46 $4.46

$10.74 ₡4,815

-58.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.93 $8.93

$10.32 ₡4,629

-13.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.33 $13.33

$14.10 ₡6,325

-5.46%

Apples (1kg)

$6.04 $6.04

$5.03 ₡2,256

20.08%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 $1.64

$1.59 ₡714

3.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.06 $5.06

$4.84 ₡2,171

4.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.42 $4.42

$3.96 ₡1,776

11.62%

Potato (1kg)

$2.93 $2.93

$3.76 ₡1,684

-22.07%

Onion (1kg)

$2.17 $2.17

$3.73 ₡1,674

-41.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.97 $1.97

$1.08 ₡485

82.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.03 $2.03

$3.25 ₡1,456

-37.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.68 $9.68

$5.86 ₡2,627

65.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.15 $12.15

$20.28 ₡9,095

-40.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.23 $2.23

$2.90 ₡1,300

-23.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.85 $3.85

$3.73 ₡1,673

3.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.01 $2.01

$1.08 ₡486

86.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$65.5 ₡29.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.50 ₡1,123

-2.80%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.57 $1.57

$1.63 ₡732

-3.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$39.71 $39.71

$8.71 ₡3,904

355.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.92 $0.92

$1.58 ₡709

-41.77%

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

$28.1K $28.1K

$33.6K ₡15.1M

-16.45%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$41.7K ₡18.7M

-37.72%

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

$269 $269

$93.7 ₡42.0K

186.90%

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

$34.85 $34.85

$35.42 ₡15.9K

-1.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.8 $68.8

$60.0 ₡26.9K

14.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.17 $45.17

$72.6 ₡32.6K

-37.77%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$25.83 ₡11.6K

Cinema Ticket

$15.21 $15.21

$7.74 ₡3,471

96.51%

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

$922 $922

$1,005 ₡450.9K

-8.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.7K $15.7K

$16.9K ₡7.6M

-6.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.68 $23.68

$73.1 ₡32.8K

-67.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 $31.82

$55.4 ₡24.9K

-42.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$110 $110

$128 ₡57.5K

-14.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$138 $138

$130 ₡58.5K

5.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$793 $793

$932 ₡418.0K

-14.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$589 $589

$760 ₡340.8K

-22.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,034 $1,034

$1,922 ₡862.0K

-46.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$895 $895

$1,276 ₡572.1K

-29.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,386 $2,386

$2,301 ₡1.0M

3.70%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,615 $2,615

$1,833 ₡821.9K

42.70%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,386 $2,386

$1,029 ₡461.3K

131.94%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.65

8.62

-22.85%

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

Last update for Hays, KS: October 18, 2026

Last update for San Jose: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Hays, KS

$589 33.9%

San Jose

$760 39.5% 29.1% $171

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Hays, KS

$372 21.4%

San Jose

$189 9.8% 49.2% $183

Groceries & Markets

Hays, KS

$325 18.7%

San Jose

$403 21% 24% $78

Eating Out

Hays, KS

$220 12.7%

San Jose

$229 11.9% 3.9% $8.7

Clothing & Footwear

Hays, KS

$136 7.9%

San Jose

$174 9.1% 27.8% $38

Sport & Entertainment

Hays, KS

$76 4.4%

San Jose

$88 4.6% 16.5% $12

Getting Around

Hays, KS

$18 * 1.1%

San Jose

$80 4.2% 339% $62

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $793 in Hays, KS versus $932 in San Jose. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 132% higher in Hays, KS, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $44.00 in Hays, KS versus $62.0 in San Jose. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $325 vs $403 – making Hays, KS the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Hays, KS

🇨🇷 San Jose

🕒 Local time

03:06 3:06 AM

02:06 2:06 AM

1 h behind Hays, KS

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

19,726

342,188 Capital

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

Costa Rican Colón CRC ₡

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

1,000 CRC = 2.23 USD

1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

🇨🇷 Costa Rican Colón (₡)

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 USD = 448 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.23 USD). 1 EUR = 504 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR).

CRC to USD in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Hays, KS San Jose 3,560 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight

From you

Hays, KS
San Jose

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 San Jose: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – San Jose is pricier by about 11%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,605 per month in Hays, KS and $2,886 in San Jose. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Hays, KS, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $44.00 in Hays, KS and $62.0 in San Jose. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 24% more in San Jose, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Hays, KS, where all-in costs run around $1,737, than in San Jose at $1,924. In Hays, KS it covers expenses comfortably, while in San Jose it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Hays, KS – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Hays, KS. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, San Jose makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.