Cost of living comparison

compared to

Hayward vs. United States Cost of Living Summary

Hayward is 11.2% more expensive than United States overall.

Restaurants
pay 11.1% more in Hayward
Groceries
pay 4.0% less in Hayward
Transportation
pay 24.5% more in Hayward
Housing
pay 1.4% more in Hayward
Childcare
pay 36.5% more in Hayward
Entertainment and Sports
pay 13.7% more in Hayward
Clothing
pay 4.7% less in Hayward

The cost of childcare, transportation, entertainment and sports, restaurants, and housing in Hayward are more expensive than in United States. Expenses including clothing and groceries are lower in Hayward.

Hayward vs. United States Cost Breakdown

If you lived in Hayward instead of United States, you would:

pay 11.1% more for restaurants

 
United States
Hayward
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant $19.45
 
$19.00
 
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
$11.12
 
$15.00
 
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) $2.56
 
$2.44
 

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pay 4.0% less for groceries

 
United States
Hayward
Bread
1 loaf
$3.56
 
$1.80
 
Local cheese (8 oz) $6.50
 
$3.19
 
Milk (1 gallon) $3.97
 
$4.86
 

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pay 24.5% more for transportation

 
United States
Hayward
Gasoline (1 gallon) $3.41
 
$4.62
 
Monthly public transit pass $65.85
 
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New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) $32,336.38
 
$36,753.89
 

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pay 1.4% more for housing

 
United States
Hayward
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
$68.97
 
$56.67
 
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area $1,664.59
 
$2,050.00
 
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center $1,416.15
 
$1,777.50
 

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pay 36.5% more for childcare

 
United States
Hayward
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly $1,387.27
 
$1,232.50
 
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters $23,196.46
 
$42,750.00
 

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pay 13.7% more for entertainment and sports

 
United States
Hayward
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) $5.84
 
$8.00
 
Cappuccino in mid-range area $5.15
 
$4.83
 
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
$9.90
 
$13.50
 

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pay 4.7% less for clothing

 
United States
Hayward
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
$51.08
 
$48.00
 
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
$41.81
 
$25.00
 
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
$87.56
 
$117.50
 

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The statistics used to build this comparison are calculated using data from users just like you. We average the price of thousands of data points entered by users across the world. Learn more about our data sources. Page last updated: December 2025
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