Hays, KS vs Leavenworth, KS

Hays is moderately more affordable than Leavenworth, with a 6.5% lower cost of living index. Hays scores 76 compared to 81 for Leavenworth, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Leavenworth can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Hays is $890/month compared to $1,135/month in Leavenworth — a 22% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Hays has cheaper rent, Leavenworth actually has lower median home values ($176,000 vs $220,100).

Median household income in Hays is $56,861 compared to $71,239 in Leavenworth (-20.2%). While Leavenworth is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Hays spend roughly 18.8% of their income on rent, less than the 19.1% in Leavenworth.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (54.8°F vs 54.7°F). Leavenworth receives more rainfall at 39.3" per year compared to 24.8" in Hays.