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: $3,222 in Elizabeth, NJ versus $3,195 in Hayward, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,570 in Elizabeth, NJ versus $4,492 in Hayward, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,919 in Elizabeth, NJ versus $5,788 in Hayward, CA.

Living in Elizabeth, NJ is roughly 1% more expensive than in Hayward, CA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Elizabeth, NJ 134% above, Hayward, CA 133% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.11 $20.11

$19.65 $19.65

2.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.1 $80.1

$76.2 $76.2

5.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.78 $11.78

$10.70 $10.70

10.09%

Cappuccino

$5.44 $5.44

$4.96 $4.96

9.68%

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

$2.28 $2.28

$3.00 $3.00

-24.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.47 $1.47

$2.27 $2.27

-35.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.14 $8.14

$6.04 $6.04

34.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.10 $7.10

$7.65 $7.65

-7.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.26 $1.26

$1.30 $1.30

-3.08%

White Bread (500g)

$4.59 $4.59

$1.75 $1.75

162.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.92 $5.92

$6.03 $6.03

-1.82%

Eggs

$7.08 $7.08

$6.01 $6.01

17.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.16 $15.16

$6.45 $6.45

135.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.39 $11.39

$6.41 $6.41

77.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.12 $20.12

$13.28 $13.28

51.51%

Apples (1kg)

$6.19 $6.19

$4.46 $4.46

38.79%

Banana (1kg)

$2.93 $2.93

$2.60 $2.60

12.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.25 $4.25

$6.27 $6.27

-32.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$2.67 $2.67

101.50%

Potato (1kg)

$3.13 $3.13

$3.69 $3.69

-15.18%

Onion (1kg)

$3.63 $3.63

$1.94 $1.94

87.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.93 $2.93

$1.61 $1.61

81.99%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$0.58 $0.58

351.72%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.29 $15.29

$11.89 $11.89

28.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.26 $15.26

$9.73 $9.73

56.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.95 $2.95

$1.70 $1.70

73.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.51 $3.51

$1.70 $1.70

106.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.06 $2.06

$2.26 $2.26

-8.85%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$77.1 $77.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.04 $3.04

$3.43 $3.43

-11.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.16 $2.16

$1.91 $1.91

13.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.27 $42.27

$39.74 $39.74

6.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.02 $1.02

$1.38 $1.38

-26.09%

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

$35.5K $35.5K

$37.6K $37.6K

-5.61%

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

$25.2K $25.2K

$23.9K $23.9K

5.76%

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

$267 $267

$179 $179

48.98%

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

$51.5 $51.5

$41.26 $41.26

24.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$50.9 $50.9

$75.5 $75.5

-32.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.88 $41.88

$54.2 $54.2

-22.74%

Cinema Ticket

$20.06 $20.06

$12.70 $12.70

57.95%

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

$1,762 $1,762

$1,257 $1,257

40.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.2K $16.2K

$35.2K $35.2K

-53.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$73.8 $73.8

$48.08 $48.08

53.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$80.8 $80.8

$69.4 $69.4

16.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$123 $123

$94.9 $94.9

30.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$125 $125

$106 $106

17.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,161 $2,161

$1,879 $1,879

15.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,728 $1,728

$2,045 $2,045

-15.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,648 $2,648

$3,525 $3,525

-24.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,528 $2,528

$3,145 $3,145

-19.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,716 $2,716

$7,288 $7,288

-62.73%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,382 $2,382

$7,212 $7,212

-66.97%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,280 $5,280

$4,602 $4,602

14.73%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.32

6.07

4.12%

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

Last update for Elizabeth, NJ: August 30, 2026

Last update for Hayward, CA: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,161 in Elizabeth, NJ and $1,879 in Hayward, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Elizabeth, NJ pays 15% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $80.0 in Elizabeth, NJ vs $76.0 in Hayward, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $478 vs $306 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 1% in total monthly costs ($3,222 vs $3,195 including rent). Hayward, CA is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 15% higher in Elizabeth, NJ, 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: $2,161 in Elizabeth, NJ versus $1,879 in Hayward, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 56% higher in Elizabeth, NJ. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,222 per month in Elizabeth, NJ versus $3,195 in Hayward, CA – a 1% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Hayward, CA 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 Hayward, CA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Elizabeth, NJ. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.