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: $3,304 in Hayward, CA versus $3,164 in Elizabeth, NJ.

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

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

Living in Hayward, CA is roughly 4% more expensive than Elizabeth, NJ, driven mainly by Getting Around.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$21.86 $21.86

$19.86 $19.86

10.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$78.7 $78.7

$101 $101

-21.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.09 $15.09

$11.77 $11.77

28.21%

Cappuccino

$5.54 $5.54

$5.66 $5.66

-2.12%

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

$2.94 $2.94

$2.35 $2.35

25.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 $2.48

$1.62 $1.62

53.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.90 $7.90

$6.90 $6.90

14.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.03 $9.03

$7.21 $7.21

25.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.51 $1.51

$1.31 $1.31

15.27%

White Bread (500g)

$4.05 $4.05

$4.32 $4.32

-6.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.66 $6.66

$5.57 $5.57

19.57%

Eggs

$6.12 $6.12

$5.50 $5.50

11.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.79 $18.79

$14.24 $14.24

31.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.31 $6.31

$11.52 $11.52

-45.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.86 $15.86

$17.50 $17.50

-9.37%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$5.70 $5.70

-9.30%

Banana (1kg)

$2.80 $2.80

$2.66 $2.66

5.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.32 $5.32

$4.35 $4.35

22.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.29 $7.29

$4.51 $4.51

61.64%

Potato (1kg)

$3.69 $3.69

$3.12 $3.12

18.27%

Onion (1kg)

$3.81 $3.81

$2.82 $2.82

35.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.20 $2.20

$2.86 $2.86

-23.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.83 $2.83

$2.44 $2.44

15.98%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.48 $13.48

$14.92 $14.92

-9.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.15 $10.15

$14.80 $14.80

-31.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 $1.78

$2.48 $2.48

-28.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 $2.76

$3.68 $3.68

-25.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.24 $2.24

$2.78 $2.78

-19.42%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.9 $76.9

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.27 $4.27

$3.09 $3.09

38.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.85 $1.85

$2.15 $2.15

-13.95%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$39.65 $39.65

$41.47 $41.47

-4.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 $1.27

$0.90 $0.90

41.11%

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

$30.8K $30.8K

$23.3K $23.3K

32.29%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$24.6K $24.6K

5.72%

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

$220 $220

$215 $215

2.50%

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

$46.69 $46.69

$53.2 $53.2

-12.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$79.0 $79.0

$58.6 $58.6

34.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.2 $55.2

$25.03 $25.03

120.46%

Cinema Ticket

$13.04 $13.04

$19.89 $19.89

-34.44%

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

$2,124 $2,124

$1,753 $1,753

21.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.7K $31.7K

$14.2K $14.2K

123.31%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.7 $67.7

$49.18 $49.18

37.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.98 $48.98

$58.4 $58.4

-16.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 $103

$85.6 $85.6

20.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$148 $148

$124 $124

20.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,581 $1,581

$2,116 $2,116

-25.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,844 $1,844

$1,715 $1,715

7.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,706 $3,706

$2,647 $2,647

40.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,666 $2,666

$2,493 $2,493

6.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,151 $7,151

$2,714 $2,714

163.51%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,314 $7,314

$2,359 $2,359

210.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,593 $4,593

$5,226 $5,226

-12.10%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Elizabeth, NJ: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,581 in Hayward, CA and $2,116 in Elizabeth, NJ. 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: $79.0 in Hayward, CA vs $101 in Elizabeth, NJ for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $439 vs $443 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

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

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

On paper, Elizabeth, NJ earns 14% 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: $1,581 in Hayward, CA versus $2,116 in Elizabeth, NJ. 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 $3,304 per month in Hayward, CA versus $3,164 in Elizabeth, NJ – 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, 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.

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.