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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,234 in Hayward, CA versus $3,222 in Elizabeth, NJ.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,542 in Hayward, CA versus $4,513 in Elizabeth, NJ.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,851 in Hayward, CA versus $5,805 in Elizabeth, NJ.

Monthly costs are close between Hayward, CA and Elizabeth, NJ; which city is cheaper depends on the spending category.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Hayward, CA 141% above, Elizabeth, NJ 140% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$22.21 $22.21

$20.06 $20.06

10.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.0 $76.0

$99.0 $99.0

-23.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.75 $14.75

$11.95 $11.95

23.43%

Cappuccino

$5.85 $5.85

$5.69 $5.69

2.81%

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

$2.97 $2.97

$2.30 $2.30

29.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$1.55 $1.55

58.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.06 $8.06

$6.84 $6.84

17.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.77 $8.77

$6.90 $6.90

27.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.52 $1.52

$1.30 $1.30

16.92%

White Bread (500g)

$4.06 $4.06

$4.14 $4.14

-1.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.67 $6.67

$5.70 $5.70

17.02%

Eggs

$6.06 $6.06

$5.30 $5.30

14.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.04 $19.04

$13.74 $13.74

38.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.41 $6.41

$11.39 $11.39

-43.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.68 $15.68

$17.55 $17.55

-10.66%

Apples (1kg)

$5.22 $5.22

$5.76 $5.76

-9.38%

Banana (1kg)

$2.80 $2.80

$2.57 $2.57

8.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.09 $5.09

$4.22 $4.22

20.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.33 $7.33

$4.29 $4.29

70.86%

Potato (1kg)

$3.80 $3.80

$3.02 $3.02

25.83%

Onion (1kg)

$3.80 $3.80

$2.70 $2.70

40.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.30 $2.30

$2.83 $2.83

-18.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.43 $2.43

14.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.76 $13.76

$14.73 $14.73

-6.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.25 $10.25

$15.11 $15.11

-32.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 $1.84

$2.61 $2.61

-29.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.68 $2.68

$3.51 $3.51

-23.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.27 $2.27

$2.89 $2.89

-21.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.1 $76.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.26 $4.26

$3.02 $3.02

41.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.88 $1.88

$2.23 $2.23

-15.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$38.49 $38.49

$42.67 $42.67

-9.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 $1.22

$0.91 $0.91

34.07%

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

$30.1K $30.1K

$23.5K $23.5K

27.78%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$24.5K $24.5K

6.87%

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

$219 $219

$215 $215

1.97%

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

$46.83 $46.83

$52.5 $52.5

-10.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$79.2 $79.2

$58.4 $58.4

35.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.6 $55.6

$25.06 $25.06

121.75%

Cinema Ticket

$13.11 $13.11

$20.19 $20.19

-35.07%

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

$2,182 $2,182

$1,722 $1,722

26.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$32.0K $32.0K

$14.1K $14.1K

127.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.7 $67.7

$50.7 $50.7

33.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.26 $48.26

$59.8 $59.8

-19.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$87.7 $87.7

15.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$148 $148

$126 $126

17.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,554 $1,554

$2,184 $2,184

-28.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,835 $1,835

$1,769 $1,769

3.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,668 $3,668

$2,662 $2,662

37.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,727 $2,727

$2,476 $2,476

10.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,253 $7,253

$1,289 $1,289

462.46%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,286 $7,286

$1,147 $1,147

535.16%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,641 $4,641

$5,337 $5,337

-13.04%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.51

-0.92%

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

Last update for Hayward, CA: April 20, 2026

Last update for Elizabeth, NJ: April 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,554 in Hayward, CA and $2,184 in Elizabeth, NJ. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Elizabeth, NJ pays 15% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $76 in Hayward, CA vs $99 in Elizabeth, NJ. Groceries flip the comparison at $440 vs $437, with Elizabeth, NJ cheaper for home cooking.

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

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

On paper, Elizabeth, NJ earns 15% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,554 in Hayward, CA versus $2,184 in Elizabeth, NJ. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $2,182 in Hayward, CA versus $1,722 in Elizabeth, NJ. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 1% higher in Hayward, CA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

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

It comes down to priorities – Elizabeth, NJ wins on affordability, Hayward, CA on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.