Retirement Lists

Cost of Living in Hays, Kansas

Hays, Kansas local scene.
Photo by Ammodramus via Wikimedia Commons, CC0

Hays costs

A Hays budget needs heating, cooling, vehicles, insurance, maintenance, and care travel visible

The catalog's modeled local monthly estimate is $2,741, with one bedroom rent at $697, two bedrooms at $901, utilities at $237, groceries at $472, and transportation at $1,077. Compare current housing terms with heating, cooling, taxes, insurance, vehicle use, repairs, prescriptions, parking, and regional trips.

Request utility history, flood information, roof and foundation records, insurance, parking, internet, vehicle costs, winter service, storm supplies, and the HaysMed route. Lower rent can be offset by weather resilience, driving, maintenance, and specialty care travel.

Planning a monthly budget

A local monthly estimate of $2,741 gives you the starting point, with transportation taking the largest share.

Housing
$697
Utilities (in rent)
$237
Food
$472/mo
Transportation
$1,077/mo
Healthcare
$495

Utilities are included in housing so they are not added twice. The separate Utilities row is a reference estimate.

How the total can change

A traveler style stay, a couple household, and long term rent answer different planning questions.

Comfortable Living
$3,737

Very Good

Cost of Living for Couple
$4,223

Very Good

Typical 1BR Rent
$697

Excellent

Everyday expenses

Dining, transportation, taxes, and car needs can change how the monthly budget feels.

Dining Out
$230/mo

Excellent

Need for a Car
Required
Property Taxes
Moderate

Fair

Overall Feel
Good
Residents 65+ Below Poverty Level
12.6%
65+ Householder — Renter Occupied
24.5%
65+ Households With High Housing Costs
42.3%
Median Household Income, Householder 65+
$44,827

Could Hays fit your monthly retirement budget?

Compare your monthly budget with a city estimate. Add your expected housing amount when you have a more useful number.

Housing

Enter your expected rent and required housing charges, or leave this blank to use the current renter amount.

Your entries stay in this browser and are not included in analytics.

Starting renter estimates

Use these broad monthly estimates as a starting point, then replace them with costs you know.

One person
$2,741 per month
Two people
$4,223 per month

One-person estimate breakdown

Housing
$697
Food
$472
Transportation
$1,077
Healthcare
$495

Taxes, debt, insurance, out-of-pocket care, travel, and one-time moving costs may not be included.

Hays in everyday life

Could Hays work for you?

What may work well

  • The catalog and Census sources provide household planning anchors.
  • The hospital, parks, history, university, and regional care route provide concrete weekly resources.

What to think about

  • The citywide figures are planning references, not a personal retirement budget.
  • Heating, cooling, insurance, flooding, vehicle use, maintenance, severe weather, and regional care can change the total.

Price a Hays household

  1. Compare several addresses

    Keep housing, heating, cooling, insurance, flood exposure, vehicle use, repairs, parking, and care distance visible.

  2. Map recurring care

    Price HaysMed, regional specialists, pharmacy, groceries, fuel, parking, referrals, winter roads, and aftercare.

  3. Reserve for western weather

    Keep room for heating, cooling, roof repairs, trees, drainage, power, insurance, snow and ice, roads, and a ride after difficult weather.

Questions retirees ask

Are Hays rent figures the full budget?

No. Add heating, cooling, taxes, insurance, maintenance, transport, food, care, prescriptions, fuel, winter service, storm supplies, repairs, and regional trips.

Why do Hays homes have different budgets?

Flood exposure, drainage, heating, cooling, roof age, insulation, insurance, parking, vehicle use, repairs, and care distance vary by address.

Hays affordability depends on the actual home, heating and storm plan, transport, insurance, care, and the services used each week.

Sources

The budget value gives a starting point for everyday spending. Housing, healthcare, safety, and climate can change what feels comfortable for a household.

Housing mix, exchange rates, healthcare needs, car ownership, and travel style can move a real monthly budget materially.

Partnerships never affect rankings, scores, methodology, or inclusion.

Partner with Retirement Lists

Research and writing by

How this city research is made

Retirement Lists uses documented public sources and methods to research, review, and correct city information. Read our Editorial Policy.