Cost of Living Comparison Between Elizabeth, NJ and Hayward, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Elizabeth, NJ and Hayward, CA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,164 in Elizabeth, NJ versus $3,304 in Hayward, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,430 in Elizabeth, NJ versus $4,524 in Hayward, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,695 in Elizabeth, NJ versus $5,744 in Hayward, CA.

Living in Elizabeth, NJ costs roughly 4% less than in Hayward, CA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Elizabeth, NJ 136% above, Hayward, CA 147% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.86 $19.86

$21.86 $21.86

-9.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$78.7 $78.7

27.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.77 $11.77

$15.09 $15.09

-22.00%

Cappuccino

$5.66 $5.66

$5.54 $5.54

2.17%

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

$2.35 $2.35

$2.94 $2.94

-20.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.62 $1.62

$2.48 $2.48

-34.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.90 $6.90

$7.90 $7.90

-12.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.21 $7.21

$9.03 $9.03

-20.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 $1.31

$1.51 $1.51

-13.25%

White Bread (500g)

$4.32 $4.32

$4.05 $4.05

6.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.57 $5.57

$6.66 $6.66

-16.37%

Eggs

$5.50 $5.50

$6.12 $6.12

-10.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.24 $14.24

$18.79 $18.79

-24.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.52 $11.52

$6.31 $6.31

82.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.50 $17.50

$15.86 $15.86

10.34%

Apples (1kg)

$5.70 $5.70

$5.17 $5.17

10.25%

Banana (1kg)

$2.66 $2.66

$2.80 $2.80

-5.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.35 $4.35

$5.32 $5.32

-18.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$7.29 $7.29

-38.13%

Potato (1kg)

$3.12 $3.12

$3.69 $3.69

-15.45%

Onion (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$3.81 $3.81

-25.98%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.86 $2.86

$2.20 $2.20

30.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.44 $2.44

$2.83 $2.83

-13.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.92 $14.92

$13.48 $13.48

10.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.80 $14.80

$10.15 $10.15

45.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.48 $2.48

$1.78 $1.78

39.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.68 $3.68

$2.76 $2.76

33.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.78 $2.78

$2.24 $2.24

24.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.9 $76.9

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.09 $3.09

$4.27 $4.27

-27.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.15 $2.15

$1.85 $1.85

16.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.47 $41.47

$39.65 $39.65

4.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 $0.90

$1.27 $1.27

-29.13%

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

$23.3K $23.3K

$30.8K $30.8K

-24.41%

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

$24.6K $24.6K

$26.0K $26.0K

-5.41%

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

$215 $215

$220 $220

-2.44%

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

$53.2 $53.2

$46.69 $46.69

13.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.6 $58.6

$79.0 $79.0

-25.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.03 $25.03

$55.2 $55.2

-54.64%

Cinema Ticket

$19.89 $19.89

$13.04 $13.04

52.53%

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

$1,753 $1,753

$2,124 $2,124

-17.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.2K $14.2K

$31.7K $31.7K

-55.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.18 $49.18

$67.7 $67.7

-27.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$58.4 $58.4

$48.98 $48.98

19.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.6 $85.6

$103 $103

-17.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 $124

$148 $148

-16.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,116 $2,116

$1,581 $1,581

33.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,715 $1,715

$1,844 $1,844

-6.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,647 $2,647

$3,706 $3,706

-28.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,493 $2,493

$2,666 $2,666

-6.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,714 $2,714

$7,151 $7,151

-62.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,359 $2,359

$7,314 $7,314

-67.75%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,226 $5,226

$4,593 $4,593

13.77%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

6.45

0.93%

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

Last update for Elizabeth, NJ: June 1, 2026

Last update for Hayward, CA: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,116 in Elizabeth, NJ and $1,581 in Hayward, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Elizabeth, NJ pays 14% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $101 in Elizabeth, NJ vs $79.0 in Hayward, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $443 vs $439 per month, with Hayward, CA cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Elizabeth, NJ vs Hayward, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Elizabeth, NJ and Hayward, CA differ by about 4% in total monthly costs ($3,164 vs $3,304 including rent). Elizabeth, NJ is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Elizabeth, NJ pays 14% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,116 in Elizabeth, NJ versus $1,581 in Hayward, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Hayward, CA pay roughly 1% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $3,164 per month in Elizabeth, NJ versus $3,304 in Hayward, CA – a 4% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Elizabeth, NJ is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Elizabeth, NJ and Hayward, CA are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Elizabeth, NJ gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Hayward, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.