F
73%
Overall NAT. AVG.
14%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
197%
Housing NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Hayward California National
Cost of living173140100
Goods & Services114111100
Groceries117112100
Health care121109100
Housing297196100
Transportation129126100
Utilities134127100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Hayward, CA

Understanding the cost of living in Hayward can help future residents assess whether their current financial situation aligns with the expenses they will encounter. It enables them to plan for potential changes in their budget and lifestyle. The Hayward cost of living index is 173, which is 73% higher than the national average. The cost of living index is calculated by taking into account multiple categories, which encompass both the cost of everyday expenditures and larger expenses as well.

If affordability is among your top priorities when searching for a new place to live, this area may not be the ideal fit, as the cost of living in Hayward is among the most expensive in the United States. Just a minority of areas exhibit a cost of living at least 20% higher than the national average, and unfortunately, Hayward falls into this category, which may not align with your goal of finding a budget-friendly living environment.

Housing costs make up a big chunk of the cost of living in Hayward, and they usually eat into a large part of your take-home pay. Unfortunately, in this area, both buying a home and renting one costs 196.5% more than the average city. This includes stuff like home prices, rent, mortgage rates, and insurance.

Goods and services make up 33% of the total cost of living index score and are a large part of your everyday expenses. These items could include things like haircuts, salons, toothpaste, shampoo, clothes, movies, bowling, gym memberships or yoga. In Hayward, you can expect to pay 14.1% more than average for these items, making it a more expensive place to live.

The relentless increase in grocery prices is a noteworthy trend. In the last two years, grocery costs have experienced an upward trajectory of over 10%. Unfortunately, Hayward is no exception, where grocery prices are 17.2% above the national average.

What Do Locals Say About the Cost of Living in Hayward?

Nobody knows their city better than the people who actually live there. So, we asked 8 local residents how they would rate the cost of living in Hayward and this is how they responded. 13% of people said that the cost of living was affordable, with prices decreasing, while 88% of people said that the cost of living was very expensive and prices continue to rise.

Is Hayward Affordable?

Is Hayward affordable? It's a key consideration when pondering a move, as affordability often shapes your choices. The cost of living index (we discussed it earlier), coupled with housing costs and income levels, serves as the cornerstone for determining a location's affordability. Take Hayward, for instance, where the median home price falls 237.1% higher than the national average, and monthly rent rates are 101.7% higher than usual. Additionally, median income levels contribute to the equation, with Hayward flaunting a median household income of $91,490, 65.4% higher than the national norm.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Hayward?

Transportation: In areas where public transportation is scarce or unavailable, residents often find themselves compelled to own and upkeep vehicles, thereby increasing the overall cost of living. Monthly expenses encompass fuel, insurance, routine maintenance and potentially lease or financing payments. In Hayward, the transportation index is 29.2% higher than the national average.

Housing: When there's a high demand for housing in trendy places, it can cause property prices and rental rates to soar, leading to a significantly higher cost of living. Conversely, in less desirable locations, where demand is low, prices tend to decrease, resulting in a more budget-friendly cost of living. In Hayward, the housing index is 196.5% higher than the national average.

Urbanization: Larger, urban hubs brimming with ample amenities and robust employment opportunities often showcase a heightened cost of living. This surge is primarily attributed to the amplified demand for services and increased residential migration, culminating in elevated home prices and elevated rental rates. Conversely, less densely populated rural locales or regions characterized by reduced demand tend to offer a more limited array of amenities and undergo slower job market growth, ultimately yielding a more affordable cost of living.

Where is the Data From?

The Hayward cost of living data displayed above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index to provide a useful and reasonably accurate measure of living cost differences in urban areas. The index takes into account data from 300 independent researches, covering more than 60 goods and services across 6 different categories, to create an overall index for each area, with 100 being the average. The C2ER index does not include sales or income tax rates in their data, however AreaVibes does include both income and sales tax rates in the overall cost of living score for each area.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Hayward is 24% higher than the California average
  • The cost of living in Hayward is 73% higher than the national average
  • Hayward housing is 197% higher than the national average
  • California general sales tax is 42% higher than the national average
  • California state income tax is 61% lower than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Hayward

See all the best places to live around Hayward

Compare Hayward, CA Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

      This is how much you would need to earn in
      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$112,325$9,360$2,621$3,370
      Renters$72,506$6,042$1,692$2,175
      The affordability of the housing market in Hayward, CA as well as the overall cost of living can be predicted by what percent of the monthly income is spent on housing related costs. This is konwn as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). The overall rule of thumb is that no more than 28% of your gross income should be spent on the overall costs related to housing and no more than 36% of gross income on all expenses and debts. Among Hayward homeowners, the median income is $112,325. This indicates that a monthly maximum of $2,621 should be spent by homeowners on all housing related costs. Renters have a median income of $72,506. This indicates that renters would have a maximum of $1,692 for their rent related monthly costs.

      California Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      California 7.25% 10.5%

      California Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      California 1% 13.3%

      Goods & Services

      Item Hayward National avg. Difference
      Haircut $25.00$24.263.0%
      Beauty Salon $76.00$45.5666.8%
      Toothpaste $3.64$3.701.7%
      Shampoo $1.45$1.2813.5%
      Movie $16.46$12.1335.7%
      Bowling $27.22$18.0051.2%

      Groceries

      Item Hayward National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.70$5.842.3%
      Fried Chicken $3.43$1.57118.2%
      Milk $4.91$4.675.1%
      Potatoes $4.87$4.931.3%
      Pizza $13.49$12.0911.6%
      Beer $11.18$10.417.4%

      Health Care

      Item Hayward National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $137.40$125.689.3%
      Doctor $110.00$135.7819.0%
      Dentist $118.27$113.294.4%
      Ibuprofen $11.76$10.6510.4%
      Lipitor $508.17$468.608.4%

      Housing

      Item Hayward National avg. Difference
      Home Price $622,700.00$184,700.00237.1%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $6,553.90$2,346.69179.3%
      Apartment Rent $1,914.00$949.00101.7%

      Transportation

      Item Hayward National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $4.60$3.4633.0%
      Tire Balancing $60.97$59.921.7%

      Utilities

      Item Hayward National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $182.51$193.995.9%
      Phone $180.31$192.256.2%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Cherryland, CA15,97615858.3%
      Ashland, CA23,56616463.8%
      Emeryville, CA11,67916968.9%
      San Lorenzo, CA30,11717171.4%
      San Leandro, CA90,48917271.8%
      Hayward, CA158,81717373.0%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Alexandria, VA158,30915858.5%
      Barrie, ON159,618n/a 
      Lancaster, CA157,69712524.9%
      Coquitlam, BC159,980n/a 
      Abbotsford, BC160,174n/a 
      Hayward, CA158,81717373.0%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.