Hayward, CA Cost Of Living

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-24

Cost Of Living In Hayward, CA Summary

Cost of living in Hayward research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Hayward is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.

On a city-by-city basis in California, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:

  • The cost of living index in Hayward is 174, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Hayward is 1.7x higher than the national average.

  • Hayward ranks as the #456 cheapest in California out of 634.

  • Hayward ranks as the #6,127 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Hayward is $832,981.

  • The median income in Hayward is $113,775.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
174
Hayward's Overall Cost Of Living
1.7x
Higher Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Hayward, CA?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Hayward has an overall cost of living index of 174, which is 1.7x higher than the national index of 100.

Compared to California, Hayward has a cost of living index that's 1.2x higher than California's index of 141.

The standard of living in Hayward ranks as #456 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Hayward ranks as the #178 most expensive place in the Golden State.

For more reading on life in Hayward, check out:

456 out of 634
In California
6,127 out of 6,489
In America

Hayward Cost Of Living Vs. California

Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Hayward. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in Hayward is 116.

  • The Groceries index in Hayward is 119.

  • The Health index in Hayward is 122.

  • The Housing index in Hayward is 298.

  • The Transportation index in Hayward is 127.

  • The Utilities index in Hayward is 135.

Living Expense Hayward California National Average
Overall 174 141 100
Services 116 110 100
Groceries 119 112 100
Health 122 110 100
Housing 298 195 100
Transportation 127 125 100
Utilities 135 128 100
For more reading on cost of living around California, check out:
Hayward Cost of Living Vs. CA

Hayward, CA Housing Cost Breakdown

Housing swings affordability the most between places in California, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2019-2023. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in Hayward is $832,981.

  • The Median Rent in Hayward is $2,360.

  • The Median Income in Hayward is $113,775.

  • The Home Value To Income in Hayward is 7.3x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Hayward is 0.25x.

Statistic Hayward California United States
Median Home Value $832,981 $763,287 $303,400
Median Rent $2,360 $1,956 $1,348
Median Income $113,775 $96,334 $78,538
Home Value To Income 7.3x 7.9x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.25x 0.24x 0.21x
$832,981
Median Home Value
$2,360
Median Rent
$113,775
Median Income

Hayward, CA Costs By Category

Detailed Hayward Services Costs Vs. California

Item Hayward California
Shampoo $1.45 $1.28
Movie $16.46 $12.13
Bowling $27.22 $18
Haircut $25.0 $24.26
Beauty Salon $76.0 $45.56

Detailed Hayward Groceries Costs Vs. California

Item Hayward California
Ground Beef $5.7 $5.84
Fried Chicken $3.43 $1.57
Milk $4.91 $4.67
Potatoes $4.87 $4.93
Pizza $13.49 $12.09
Beer $11.18 $10.41
Toothpaste $3.64 $3.7

Detailed Hayward Health Costs Vs. California

Item Hayward California
Optometrist $137.4 $125.68
Doctor $110.0 $135.78
Dentist $118.27 $113.29

Detailed Hayward Transportation Costs Vs. California

Item Hayward California
Gasoline $4.6 $3.46
Tire Balancing $60.97 $59.92

Detailed Hayward Utilities Costs Vs. California

Item Hayward California
All Electricity $182.51 $193.99
Phone $180.31 $192.25

Hayward SnackAbility

8
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
8/10
Housing
9.5
Affordability
4
Diversity
10
Safety
5
Amenities
9.5
Education
7
Commute
3

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Hayward

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Hayward. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:

  • Sunnyvale, CA has a cost of living index of 266, 1.5x Hayward.

  • San Mateo, CA has a cost of living index of 248, 1.4x Hayward.

  • San Leandro, CA has a cost of living index of 173, 1.0x Hayward.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Hayward
Sunnyvale, CA 153,455 266 1.5x
San Mateo, CA 103,555 248 1.4x
San Leandro, CA 88,531 173 1.0x
San Ramon, CA 85,734 222 1.3x
Pleasanton, CA 77,500 226 1.3x
Castro Valley, CA 65,389 196 1.1x
Newark, CA 47,145 198 1.1x
San Bruno, CA 42,612 220 1.3x
Los Altos, CA 30,736 339 1.9x
San Carlos, CA 29,797 311 1.8x

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