City comparison
Cost indices by category, with the US city average (100) marked.
Index: 100 = US city average. Lower is more affordable.
Side-by-side costs, salaries, and sub-category indices.
| Metric | Austin | Hayward | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $1,549/mo | $2,260/mo | 31.5% lower in A |
| Median home value | $461,500 | $775,700 | 40.5% lower in A |
| Median household income | $86,556 | $105,371 | 17.9% lower in A |
| Groceries index | 104.2 | 111.9 | 6.9% lower in A |
| Utilities index | 102.6 | 137.7 | 25.5% lower in A |
| Transportation index | 91.7 | 120.7 | 24.0% lower in A |
| Healthcare index | 110.4 | 125.7 | 12.2% lower in A |
How much you'd need to earn in the other city to keep the same standard of living.
If you earn $100,000 in Austin, you'd need $132,907 in Hayward to maintain your standard of living.
Climate, safety, and demographics side by side.
Austin, TX is about 24.8% cheaper overall than Hayward, CA, based on our cost-of-living index. Housing costs are roughly 31% lower in Austin than in Hayward. If you earn $80,000 in Austin, you'd need about $106,326 in Hayward to keep the same standard of living.