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 $3,661 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,613 in Hays, KS, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,544 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,721 in Hays, KS, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,427 per month in Seattle, WA vs $4,829 in Hays, KS, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 40% more than Hays, KS, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Seattle, WA and Hays, KS sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 173%, Hays, KS by 95%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.32 $25.32

$15.18 $15.18

66.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$121 $121

$44.86 $44.86

170.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.11 $14.11

$10.02 $10.02

40.82%

Cappuccino

$5.82 $5.82

$4.58 $4.58

27.07%

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

$2.98 $2.98

$2.45 $2.45

21.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.40 $2.40

$1.02 $1.02

135.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.73 $7.73

$3.52 $3.52

119.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.87 $7.87

$4.52 $4.52

74.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$0.94 $0.94

42.55%

White Bread (500g)

$4.91 $4.91

$3.75 $3.75

30.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$4.31 $4.31

19.26%

Eggs

$6.57 $6.57

$3.96 $3.96

65.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.64 $24.64

$9.72 $9.72

153.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.88 $15.88

$7.90 $7.90

101.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.14 $20.14

$17.83 $17.83

12.96%

Apples (1kg)

$6.27 $6.27

$5.49 $5.49

14.21%

Banana (1kg)

$2.86 $2.86

$1.61 $1.61

77.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.29 $5.29

$4.91 $4.91

7.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.39 $6.39

$4.57 $4.57

39.82%

Potato (1kg)

$3.21 $3.21

$2.57 $2.57

24.90%

Onion (1kg)

$3.83 $3.83

$2.70 $2.70

41.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.04 $2.04

34.31%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$1.85 $1.85

39.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.64 $11.64

$9.10 $9.10

27.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.77 $15.77

$11.79 $11.79

33.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.88 $2.88

$2.20 $2.20

30.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.39 $4.39

$3.91 $3.91

12.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.05 $2.05

34.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.8 $98.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.43 $2.43

9.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.50 $1.50

13.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.74 $29.74

$26.54 $26.54

12.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.75 $0.75

52.00%

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

$32.9K $32.9K

$28.5K $28.5K

15.36%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$23.8K $23.8K

9.24%

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

$268 $268

$315 $315

-14.91%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$56.0 $56.0

8.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.2 $76.2

$74.1 $74.1

2.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.1 $78.1

$42.76 $42.76

82.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.15 $40.15

Cinema Ticket

$15.82 $15.82

$12.90 $12.90

22.64%

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

$2,252 $2,252

$903 $903

149.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.7K $29.7K

$16.1K $16.1K

84.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.8 $70.8

$45.89 $45.89

54.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.1 $53.1

$37.99 $37.99

39.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$108 $108

8.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$139 $139

$112 $112

23.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,310 $2,310

$1,604 $1,604

44.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,849 $1,849

$1,367 $1,367

35.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,739 $4,739

$2,614 $2,614

81.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,556 $3,556

$2,195 $2,195

62.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,775 $7,775

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,351 $5,351

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,575 $6,575

$2,430 $2,430

170.53%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.52

-1.53%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: April 21, 2026

Last update for Hays, KS: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,310 in Seattle, WA versus $1,604 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 171% 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 $121 in Seattle, WA versus $45 in Hays, KS. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $539 vs $368 – 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 40%, 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 $5,491 per month in Seattle, WA and $3,920 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 $121 in Seattle, WA and $45.00 in Hays, KS. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 47% 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.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,661 in Seattle, WA and $2,613 in Hays, KS. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

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.