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

🙂 Solo nomad: Hayward, CA is 10.5% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 10.6% more expensive with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Hayward, CA is 8.4% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 7.4% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hayward, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.79 $21.79
$20.82 $20.82
4.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$77.6 $77.6
$100 $100
-22.68%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.72 $14.72
$11.97 $11.97
22.97%
Cappuccino
$5.62 $5.62
$5.56 $5.56
1.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92 $2.92
$3.11 $3.11
-6.11%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.44 $2.44
$2.42 $2.42
0.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.91 $7.91
$6.86 $6.86
15.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.15 $9.15
$8.45 $8.45
8.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hayward, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.52 $1.52
$1.04 $1.04
46.15%
White Bread (500g)
$4.04 $4.04
$4.15 $4.15
-2.65%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$6.8 $6.8
$5.52 $5.52
23.19%
Eggs
$5.97 $5.97
$4.65 $4.65
28.39%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.42 $19.42
$14.33 $14.33
35.52%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.33 $6.33
$14.88 $14.88
-57.46%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.27 $15.27
$19.34 $19.34
-21.04%
Apples (1kg)
$5.05 $5.05
$5.17 $5.17
-2.32%
Banana (1kg)
$2.79 $2.79
$1.71 $1.71
63.16%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.11 $5.11
$4.41 $4.41
15.87%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.97 $6.97
$4.51 $4.51
54.55%
Potato (1kg)
$3.69 $3.69
$2.53 $2.53
45.85%
Onion (1kg)
$3.9 $3.9
$2.74 $2.74
42.34%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.22 $2.22
$2.43 $2.43
-8.64%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.76 $2.76
$2.7 $2.7
2.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.46 $13.46
$15.19 $15.19
-11.39%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.95 $9.95
$16.42 $16.42
-39.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 $1.78
$2.35 $2.35
-24.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83 $2.83
$3.7 $3.7
-23.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Hayward, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.24 $2.24
$2.53 $2.53
-11.46%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.1 $74.1
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.03 $4.03
$3.34 $3.34
20.66%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.85 $1.85
$1.42 $1.42
30.28%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$38.51 $38.51
$25.42 $25.42
51.49%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 $1.27
$1.08 $1.08
17.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.7K $30.7K
$32.4K $32.4K
-5.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K $26.5K
$26.2K $26.2K
0.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hayward, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$217 $217
$188 $188
15.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$46.73 $46.73
$63.7 $63.7
-26.64%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$79.1 $79.1
$65.2 $65.2
21.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hayward, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56 $56
$76.7 $76.7
-27.06%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.98 $12.98
$14.93 $14.93
-13.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hayward, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,179 $2,179
$2,063 $2,063
5.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$32.4K $32.4K
$39.2K $39.2K
-17.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hayward, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.4 $68.4
$64.3 $64.3
6.42%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.36 $47.36
$52.4 $52.4
-9.60%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 $101
$95.2 $95.2
6.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$151 $151
$145 $145
4.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hayward, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,561 $1,561
$2,378 $2,378
-34.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,865 $1,865
$1,584 $1,584
17.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,737 $3,737
$4,763 $4,763
-21.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,705 $2,705
$2,815 $2,815
-3.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,240 $7,240
$3,588 $3,588
101.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,422 $7,422
$2,490 $2,490
198.04%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hayward, CA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,842 $4,842
$5,275 $5,275
-8.21%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.45
6.6
-2.27%

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

Last update for Hayward, CA: October 27, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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