El Dorado, KS vs Hays, KS

El Dorado is moderately more affordable than Hays, with a 11.8% lower cost of living index. El Dorado scores 67 compared to 76 for Hays, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Hays can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in El Dorado is $877/month compared to $890/month in Hays — a 2% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: El Dorado is more affordable at $113,800 median vs $220,100.

Median household income in El Dorado is $54,828 compared to $56,861 in Hays (-3.6%). Hays does offer higher incomes, but the salary premium barely offsets the higher cost of living, leaving residents with a tighter budget. Looking at affordability, residents of El Dorado spend roughly 19.2% of their income on rent, more than the 18.8% in Hays.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (57°F vs 54.8°F). El Dorado receives more rainfall at 32.6" per year compared to 24.8" in Hays.