Garden City, KS vs Hays, KS

Garden City, KS and Hays, KS have a very similar cost of living, with only a 0.3% difference in their overall index. Garden City scores 76 while Hays scores 76 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Garden City is $990/month compared to $890/month in Hays — a 11% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Hays has cheaper rent, Garden City actually has lower median home values ($186,200 vs $220,100).

Median household income in Garden City is $72,511 compared to $56,861 in Hays (+27.5%). While Garden City is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Garden City spend roughly 16.4% of their income on rent, less than the 18.8% in Hays.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (54.4°F vs 54.8°F). Hays receives more rainfall at 24.8" per year compared to 19" in Garden City.