Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Hayward, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Hayward, CA

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 11.7% more expensive than Hayward, CA without rent, and 9.6% cheaper with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 9.2% more expensive than Hayward, CA without rent, and 8% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$21.79 $21.79

-4.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$77.6 $77.6

29.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$14.72 $14.72

-18.68%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.62 $5.62

-1.07%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.11 $3.11

$2.92 $2.92

6.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.44 $2.44

-0.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$7.91 $7.91

-13.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$9.15 $9.15

-7.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.52 $1.52

-31.58%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$4.04 $4.04

2.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$6.8 $6.8

-18.82%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$5.97 $5.97

-22.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$19.42 $19.42

-26.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$6.33 $6.33

135.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$15.27 $15.27

26.65%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$5.05 $5.05

2.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.79 $2.79

-38.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$5.11 $5.11

-13.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$6.97 $6.97

-35.29%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$3.69 $3.69

-31.44%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$3.9 $3.9

-29.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.22 $2.22

9.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.76 $2.76

-2.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$13.46 $13.46

12.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$9.95 $9.95

65.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.78 $1.78

32.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$2.83 $2.83

30.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.24 $2.24

12.95%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$4.03 $4.03

-17.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.85 $1.85

-23.24%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$38.51 $38.51

-33.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.27 $1.27

-14.96%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$32.4K $32.4K

$30.7K $30.7K

5.50%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.2K $26.2K

$26.5K $26.5K

-0.95%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$188 $188

$217 $217

-13.33%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$63.7 $63.7

$46.73 $46.73

36.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$79.1 $79.1

-17.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$56 $56

37.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$12.98 $12.98

15.02%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$2,063 $2,063

$2,179 $2,179

-5.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$32.4K $32.4K

20.96%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$68.4 $68.4

-6.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$47.36 $47.36

10.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$101 $101

-6.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$151 $151

-4.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,561 $1,561

52.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,865 $1,865

-15.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$3,737 $3,737

27.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$2,705 $2,705

4.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$7,240 $7,240

-50.44%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$7,422 $7,422

-66.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$4,842 $4,842

8.94%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.45

2.33%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Hayward, CA: October 27, 2025

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