Hays, KS vs Steens, MS: Which City Wins for Expats in 2026?
Hays, KS ranks meaningfully higher on safety. Use our tool below to personalize the estimate based on your income and lifestyle.
Hays, KS is approximately 14% less expensive than Steens, MS based on cost of living including rent. This makes Hays, KS a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Hays, KS has a FIRE Score of 84/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 88, which is relatively safe.
Recommended profile: Hays, KS is ideal for GeoArbitragers and remote workers looking to maximize savings.
Hays, KS
United StatesAbout Hays, KS
Hays is a small college town that punches well above its weight on cost and safety, with a 1-bedroom outside the center at just $598/mo and a crime index of 12/100. The trade-off is a continental Great Plains climate with brutal seasonal swings and a local average net salary of only $2,400/mo, so remote workers and retirees on fixed incomes get far more mileage here than locals chasing raises. An overall expat score of 84/100 and a FIRE score of 84/100 make it a genuinely compelling base if you can tolerate the isolation and the 62 Mbps internet. It is not for everyone, but for the price, few American towns compete.
About United States
Best for families seeking high English proficiency and excellent air travel access, with no retiree or digital nomad visa available. Internet speed of 390.28 Mbps and a large expat community support remote work, but the cost of living index is 100 (global baseline). Key trade-off: no retirement or digital nomad visa, and a complex pathway to residency or citizenship limits long-term stays.
$1,730/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
Steens, MS
United StatesAbout Steens, MS
At $900 a month for a one-bedroom in town, Steens rents for less than a typical US car payment. A remote worker or early retiree banking that difference can cut withdrawal rates meaningfully. The 1,000-person setting, 85 Mbps internet, and good healthcare access keep it functional for remote income. It's worth it only if small-town Mississippi isolation is a feature, not a cost, for you.
About United States
Best for families seeking high English proficiency and excellent air travel access, with no retiree or digital nomad visa available. Internet speed of 390.28 Mbps and a large expat community support remote work, but the cost of living index is 100 (global baseline). Key trade-off: no retirement or digital nomad visa, and a complex pathway to residency or citizenship limits long-term stays.
$783/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
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| Metric | Hays, KS | Steens, MS |
|---|---|---|
| 1BR Apartment (Center) | $790.5 | $900 |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside) | $598 | $800 |
| 3BR Apartment (Center) | $1015 | $1700 |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside) | $896 | $2300 |
| Safety Index | 88 | 70 |
| Internet Speed | 62Mbps | 85Mbps |
| Walkability Score | N/A | N/A |
Monthly cost by categoryOne person, computed from each city's own average prices
| Category | Hays, KS | Steens, MS |
|---|---|---|
| Total (rent included) | $1,376/mo | N/A |
| Excluding rent | $778/mo | N/A |
| Rent | $598/mo | N/A |
| Groceries | $188/mo | N/A |
| Dining out | $135/mo | N/A |
| Entertainment & lifestyle | $78.00/mo | N/A |
| Utilities & connectivity | $377/mo | N/A |
| Transport | N/A | N/A |
Usage-based estimates from this city's own average prices. A row marked N/A means that city is missing data, so no figure is shown instead of a stale one.
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Hays, KS vs Steens, MS -- Frequently Asked Questions
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