Before you decide to relocate to Hawaii, it’s important to research the exact cost of living around the state. And that’s what we’re going to help you do.
These are the places in Hawaii that cost a pretty penny — the most expensive cities in the state.
We used Saturday Night Science to compare the 2018-2022 American Community Survey on cost of living for the 50 places in Hawaii with more than 5,000 people.
After we saved up for months and could finally afford it, we landed on this list of the ten most expensive cities in Hawaii for 2024.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Most Expensive Places To Live In Hawaii For 2024
What’s the most expensive place to live in Hawaii? Well, HomeSnacks crunched the numbers and discovered that East Honolulu is the most expensive place to live in Hawaii.
Waianae (the cheapest place to live in Hawaii) can show these guys how to live on a budget in the coming years. Read on for how these places had costs rise faster than inflation.
And if you already knew these places were expensive, check out some more reading about Hawaii and the most expensive cities in the country:
The 10 Most Expensive Places To Live In Hawaii For 2024
/10
Population: 49,491
Cost Of Living Index: 214
Median Income: $151,224
Average Home Price: $1,212,724
Home Price To Income Ratio: 8.0x
More on East Honolulu: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
The overall cost of living in East Honolulu is 214. The median income in East Honolulu comes in at $151,224 and the average home value is $1,212,724 for 2024.
/10
Population: 6,517
Cost Of Living Index: 207
Median Income: $89,088
Average Home Price: $1,406,269
Home Price To Income Ratio: 15.8x
More on Wailea: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
The overall cost of living in Wailea is 207. The median income in Wailea comes in at $89,088 and the average home value is $1,406,269 for 2024.
/10
Population: 5,065
Cost Of Living Index: 202
Median Income: $123,365
Average Home Price: $1,229,332
Home Price To Income Ratio: 10.0x
More on Kahaluu: Data | Real Estate
The overall cost of living in Kahaluu is 202. The median income in Kahaluu comes in at $123,365 and the average home value is $1,229,332 for 2024.
/10
Population: 6,578
Cost Of Living Index: 198
Median Income: $93,452
Average Home Price: $1,294,723
Home Price To Income Ratio: 13.9x
More on Kula: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
The overall cost of living in Kula is 198. The median income in Kula comes in at $93,452 and the average home value is $1,294,723 for 2024.
/10
Population: 9,571
Cost Of Living Index: 196
Median Income: $130,507
Average Home Price: $840,829
Home Price To Income Ratio: 6.4x
More on Aiea: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
The overall cost of living in Aiea is 196. The median income in Aiea comes in at $130,507 and the average home value is $840,829 for 2024.
/10
Population: 9,245
Cost Of Living Index: 192
Median Income: $94,495
Average Home Price: $990,304
Home Price To Income Ratio: 10.5x
More on Haiku-Pauwela: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
The overall cost of living in Haiku-Pauwela is 192. The median income in Haiku-Pauwela comes in at $94,495 and the average home value is $990,304 for 2024.
/10
Population: 16,173
Cost Of Living Index: 185
Median Income: $136,540
Average Home Price: $868,619
Home Price To Income Ratio: 6.4x
More on Ocean Pointe: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
The overall cost of living in Ocean Pointe is 185. The median income in Ocean Pointe comes in at $136,540 and the average home value is $868,619 for 2024.
/10
Population: 35,493
Cost Of Living Index: 184
Median Income: $120,451
Average Home Price: $1,031,688
Home Price To Income Ratio: 8.6x
More on Kaneohe: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
The overall cost of living in Kaneohe is 184. The median income in Kaneohe comes in at $120,451 and the average home value is $1,031,688 for 2024.
/10
Population: 9,502
Cost Of Living Index: 183
Median Income: $111,139
Average Home Price: $0
Home Price To Income Ratio: 0.0x
More on Hickam Housing: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
The overall cost of living in Hickam Housing is 183. The median income in Hickam Housing comes in at $111,139 and the average home value is $0 for 2024.
/10
Population: 13,919
Cost Of Living Index: 182
Median Income: $128,791
Average Home Price: $871,767
Home Price To Income Ratio: 6.8x
More on Royal Kunia: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
The overall cost of living in Royal Kunia is 182. The median income in Royal Kunia comes in at $128,791 and the average home value is $871,767 for 2024.
Methodology: How We Determined The Most Expensive Places To Live In The Aloha State For 2024
The two most important things to think about when it comes to being able to afford a city in Hawaii are:
- How much money do I make?
- How much do I have to spend to live there?
You need to understand your costs in the context of how much money you make.
For example, if the median household earns $100,000 and spends $40,000 on housing, it’s actually cheaper to live there than a place with a median income of $50,000 and housing costs of $21,000. You might spend more on housing, but you have more money overall to play with.
With that example in mind, we derived several statistics from the latest Census American Community Survey 2018-2022 around incomes and costs. They are:
- Overall Cost Of Living Index
- Median Home Price / Median Income (lower is better)
- Median Income / Median Rent (Higher is better)
- Median Home Price
You can then compare these metrics in each of the places in Hawaii to figure out which is the most expensive.
You are left with a “Cost of Living Index” by taking the average rank of each of these metrics for each city.
So we used that cost of living index to rank all of the 50 places in Hawaii that have more than 5,000 people.
The place with the highest cost of living in Hawaii according to the data is East Honolulu. We updated this article for 2024. This article is our tenth time ranking the most expensive places to live in Hawaii.
Summary: Taking A Chunk Out Of Your Paycheck In Hawaii For 2024
Well, there you have it, the places in Hawaii that have the highest cost of living, with East Honolulu ranking as the most expensive city in the Aloha State.
The most expensive cities in Hawaii are East Honolulu, Wailea, Kahaluu, Kula, Aiea, Haiku-Pauwela, Ocean Pointe, Kaneohe, Hickam Housing, and Royal Kunia.
Here’s a look at the most affordable cities in Hawaii according to the data:
- Waianae
- Nanakuli
- Hawaiian Paradise Park
For more Hawaii reading, check out:
Most Expensive Cities In Hawaii
| Rank | City | Cost Of Living | Population | Median Income | Average Home Price | Home/Income Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | East Honolulu | 214 | 49,491 | $151,224 | $1,212,724 | 8.0x |
| 2 | Wailea | 207 | 6,517 | $89,088 | $1,406,269 | 15.8x |
| 3 | Kahaluu | 202 | 5,065 | $123,365 | $1,229,332 | 10.0x |
| 4 | Kula | 198 | 6,578 | $93,452 | $1,294,723 | 13.9x |
| 5 | Aiea | 196 | 9,571 | $130,507 | $840,829 | 6.4x |
| 6 | Haiku-Pauwela | 192 | 9,245 | $94,495 | $990,304 | 10.5x |
| 7 | Ocean Pointe | 185 | 16,173 | $136,540 | $868,619 | 6.4x |
| 8 | Kaneohe | 184 | 35,493 | $120,451 | $1,031,688 | 8.6x |
| 9 | Hickam Housing | 183 | 9,502 | $111,139 | $0 | 0.0x |
| 10 | Royal Kunia | 182 | 13,919 | $128,791 | $871,767 | 6.8x |
| 11 | Halawa | 181 | 14,411 | $100,321 | $1,052,178 | 10.5x |
| 12 | Laie | 180 | 5,411 | $108,965 | $1,277,549 | 11.7x |
| 13 | Ahuimanu | 179 | 9,177 | $124,018 | $915,947 | 7.4x |
| 14 | Kahaluu-Keauhou | 179 | 7,001 | $87,472 | $824,874 | 9.4x |
| 15 | Pearl City | 178 | 46,812 | $116,938 | $907,483 | 7.8x |
| 16 | Makakilo | 176 | 21,055 | $115,435 | $820,097 | 7.1x |
| 17 | Schofield Barracks | 176 | 18,133 | $69,755 | $0 | 0.0x |
| 18 | Mililani Town | 174 | 27,423 | $119,502 | $918,444 | 7.7x |
| 19 | Pukalani | 173 | 7,930 | $119,426 | $973,588 | 8.2x |
| 20 | West Loch Estate | 172 | 6,469 | $119,250 | $876,218 | 7.3x |
| 21 | Wailua Homesteads | 171 | 7,189 | $113,306 | $906,612 | 8.0x |
| 22 | Waipahu | 170 | 39,873 | $87,961 | $861,933 | 9.8x |
| 23 | Lahaina | 169 | 12,906 | $83,443 | $1,085,380 | 13.0x |
| 24 | Waimanalo | 169 | 5,743 | $127,143 | $974,481 | 7.7x |
| 25 | Waipio | 167 | 11,138 | $99,815 | $705,468 | 7.1x |
| 26 | Iroquois Point | 166 | 5,921 | $100,794 | $0 | 0.0x |
| 27 | Lihue | 165 | 8,649 | $73,641 | $815,376 | 11.1x |
| 28 | Makawao | 165 | 7,704 | $109,385 | $1,027,207 | 9.4x |
| 29 | Ewa Gentry | 164 | 27,198 | $125,300 | $776,134 | 6.2x |
| 30 | Kapolei | 164 | 22,701 | $121,768 | $863,723 | 7.1x |
| 31 | Wahiawa | 163 | 17,400 | $81,433 | $804,544 | 9.9x |
| 32 | Ewa Beach | 163 | 15,167 | $114,207 | $852,428 | 7.5x |
| 33 | Waikele | 163 | 7,551 | $115,858 | $735,211 | 6.3x |
| 34 | Waikoloa Village | 163 | 7,418 | $103,135 | $670,515 | 6.5x |
| 35 | Kahului | 162 | 27,233 | $94,712 | $947,061 | 10.0x |
| 36 | Kapaa | 161 | 10,846 | $87,895 | $881,980 | 10.0x |
| 37 | Kihei | 159 | 22,247 | $89,892 | $1,082,813 | 12.0x |
| 38 | Wailuku | 157 | 16,590 | $93,908 | $872,690 | 9.3x |
| 39 | Ewa Villages | 157 | 6,550 | $82,903 | $826,827 | 10.0x |
| 40 | Napili-Honokowai | 155 | 6,779 | $101,939 | $821,834 | 8.1x |
| 41 | Maili | 153 | 12,114 | $105,625 | $662,699 | 6.3x |
| 42 | Waimalu | 151 | 13,932 | $85,710 | $600,174 | 7.0x |
| 43 | Waihee-Waiehu | 151 | 11,029 | $124,601 | $737,382 | 5.9x |
| 44 | Hilo | 148 | 47,627 | $75,589 | $489,606 | 6.5x |
| 45 | Kailua CDP (Hawaii County) | 148 | 21,449 | $87,268 | $672,686 | 7.7x |
| 46 | Makaha | 145 | 10,042 | $57,235 | $436,915 | 7.6x |
| 47 | Waipio Acres | 144 | 5,393 | $91,703 | $605,059 | 6.6x |
| 48 | Hawaiian Paradise Park | 143 | 13,041 | $81,236 | $464,269 | 5.7x |
| 49 | Nanakuli | 142 | 12,370 | $77,453 | $491,841 | 6.4x |
| 50 | Waianae | 141 | 13,749 | $77,435 | $590,487 | 7.6x |
