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 142.
The standard of living in Hayward ranks as #445 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Hayward ranks as the #189 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Hayward, check out:
Hayward Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Hayward. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Hayward is 118.
The Groceries index in Hayward is 119.
The Health index in Hayward is 293.
The Housing index in Hayward is 127.
The Transportation index in Hayward is 121.
The Utilities index in Hayward is 124.
| Living Expense | Hayward | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 174 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 118 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 119 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 293 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 127 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 121 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 124 | 121 | 100 |
Hayward Cost Of Living Compared To California Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around California, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Hayward Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
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 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Hayward is $848,427.
The Median Rent in Hayward is $2,391.
The Median Income in Hayward is $113,318.
The Home Value To Income in Hayward is 7.5x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Hayward is 0.25x.
| Statistic | Hayward | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $848,427 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,391 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $113,318 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 7.5x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.25x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
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
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 271, 1.6x Hayward.
San Mateo, CA has a cost of living index of 250, 1.4x Hayward.
San Leandro, CA has a cost of living index of 172, 1.0x Hayward.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Hayward |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunnyvale, CA | 154,236 | 271 | 1.6x |
| San Mateo, CA | 103,105 | 250 | 1.4x |
| San Leandro, CA | 87,826 | 172 | 1.0x |
| San Ramon, CA | 85,993 | 221 | 1.3x |
| Pleasanton, CA | 76,960 | 232 | 1.3x |
| Castro Valley, CA | 65,001 | 195 | 1.1x |
| Newark, CA | 46,903 | 194 | 1.1x |
| San Bruno, CA | 42,307 | 214 | 1.2x |
| Los Altos, CA | 30,698 | 341 | 2.0x |
| San Carlos, CA | 29,614 | 311 | 1.8x |
