Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Hays, KS Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Hays, KS

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,836 per month in Seattle, WA vs $1,770 in Hays, KS, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,763 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,518 in Hays, KS, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,691 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,267 in Hays, KS, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 117% more than Hays, KS, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Seattle, WA and Hays, KS sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 179%, Hays, KS by 29%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.68 $24.68

$13.74 $13.74

79.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.1 $99.1

$43.03 $43.03

130.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.09 $15.09

$8.12 $8.12

85.84%

Cappuccino

$6.62 $6.62

$3.96 $3.96

67.17%

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

$3.13 $3.13

$2.30 $2.30

36.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 $2.98

$0.97 $0.97

207.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.12 $8.12

$3.79 $3.79

114.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.85 $7.85

$4.17 $4.17

88.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$0.76 $0.76

53.95%

White Bread (500g)

$5.20 $5.20

$2.22 $2.22

134.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.40 $6.40

$4.30 $4.30

48.84%

Eggs

$4.91 $4.91

$1.98 $1.98

147.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.46 $21.46

$4.53 $4.53

373.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.58 $18.58

$8.04 $8.04

131.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.05 $23.05

$12.98 $12.98

77.58%

Apples (1kg)

$5.79 $5.79

$6.01 $6.01

-3.66%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.72 $1.72

9.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$5.84 $5.84

-7.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.30 $6.30

$4.52 $4.52

39.38%

Potato (1kg)

$3.80 $3.80

$2.95 $2.95

28.81%

Onion (1kg)

$3.26 $3.26

$2.26 $2.26

44.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.06 $2.06

39.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.06 $2.06

31.55%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.15 $14.15

$9.41 $9.41

50.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.07 $15.07

$12.10 $12.10

24.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.36 $4.36

$2.25 $2.25

93.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.75 $5.75

$3.84 $3.84

49.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.06 $3.06

$1.95 $1.95

56.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$110 $110

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.44 $2.44

5.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.52 $1.52

8.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.88 $29.88

$39.48 $39.48

-24.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 $1.38

$0.86 $0.86

60.47%

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

$36.4K $36.4K

$37.0K $37.0K

-1.41%

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

$25.1K $25.1K

$24.4K $24.4K

3.06%

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

$296 $296

$275 $275

7.52%

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

$71.3 $71.3

$34.52 $34.52

106.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$88.0 $88.0

$69.9 $69.9

25.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$81.5 $81.5

$42.05 $42.05

93.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.70 $35.70

Cinema Ticket

$18.33 $18.33

$14.91 $14.91

22.94%

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

$3,067 $3,067

$915 $915

235.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.6K $30.6K

$16.0K $16.0K

91.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.0 $77.0

$24.18 $24.18

218.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.0 $54.0

$40.25 $40.25

34.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$128 $128

$101 $101

25.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$165 $165

$152 $152

8.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,418 $2,418

$777 $777

211.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,931 $1,931

$606 $606

218.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,756 $4,756

$1,028 $1,028

362.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,584 $3,584

$885 $885

304.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,403 $7,403

$2,758 $2,758

168.42%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,056 $5,056

$2,396 $2,396

111.00%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,320 $6,320

$2,375 $2,375

166.12%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.17

4.05%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: August 31, 2026

Last update for Hays, KS: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,418 in Seattle, WA versus $777 in Hays, KS. 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 166% higher in Seattle, WA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $99.0 in Seattle, WA versus $43.00 in Hays, KS. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $554 vs $324 – making Hays, KS the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Seattle, WA vs Hays, KS: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Seattle, WA is pricier by about 117%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,754 per month in Seattle, WA and $2,655 in Hays, KS. 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 $99.0 in Seattle, WA and $43.00 in Hays, KS. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 71% more in Seattle, WA, 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 $1,770, than in Seattle, WA at $3,836. In Hays, KS it covers expenses comfortably, while in Seattle, WA 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, Seattle, WA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.