F
73%
Overall NAT. AVG.
27%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
176%
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 Kahului Hawaii National
Cost of living173173100
Goods & Services127130100
Groceries117137100
Health care123126100
Housing276250100
Transportation135143100
Utilities151180100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Kahului, HI

Understanding the cost of living in Kahului 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 Kahului 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.

The cost of living in Kahului is among the highest in the country, making it a very expensive place to live. Only a small fraction of regions boast a cost of living that is at least 20% higher than the national average, and regrettably, Kahului falls into this category, which may not be suitable for those seeking an economically favorable living environment.

When it comes to the cost of living in Kahului, housing costs are a real heavyweight, often hogging a significant chunk of your earnings. Sadly, in this area, housing expenses for both buying and renting were 176.2% more expensive compared to your average city. That means you'll be shelling out more for homes, rents, mortgage rates and insurance.

Recurring goods and services expenses like haircuts, toothpaste, gym memberships and movie nights are a big part of your spending and make up 33% of the cost of living index. In Kahului, these items will cost you 26.8% more than what most folks pay, making it a bit more expensive to live here.

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, Kahului is no exception, where grocery prices are 16.7% above the national average.

Is Kahului Affordable?

Wondering if Kahului is affordable? It's a question that often comes up when you're thinking about a new city since affordability can really shape your decisions. The cost of living index (covered earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a part in the affordability equation. In Kahului, for example, the median home price is 234.3% higher than what folks pay nationally, and monthly rent is 40.5% higher than the usual rates. Plus, income levels matter too, with Kahului boasting a median household income of $83,238, which is 50.5% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Kahului?

Housing: High demand for housing in desirable locations can drive up property prices and rental rates. This can be a primary contributor to a higher cost of living. While low demand for housing, especially in undesirable locations, can have the reverse effect and drive prices down, resulting in a lower cost of living. The housing index in Kahului, is 176.2% higher than the national average.

Transportation: If public transportation is limited or not available, residents may need to own and maintain vehicles, which can add to the cost of living. Gas, insurance, regular maintenance and potentially lease or finance payments will all need to be paid on a monthly basis. In Kahului, the transportation index is 35% higher than the national average.

Taxes: Cities that enforce higher taxes, covering both sales taxes and income taxes, can be a factor contributing to a higher cost of living. Paying more in taxes for everyday essentials like clothing and food inevitably leads to higher expenses. A higher income tax rate can further contribute to an overall elevated cost of living. In Kahului, the baseline sales tax rate begins at 4%, and income tax rates start at 1.4%.

Where is the Data From?

The Kahului 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. Published on a quarterly basis, it compiles data from more than 300 independent researchers, encompassing over 60 goods and services. These items have been meticulously selected to represent various consumer expenditure categories, in 6 categories. Weightings assigned to cost differentials draw from government survey data tracking spending patterns among professional and executive households. While the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, AreaVibes incorporates tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each region.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Kahului is equal to the Hawaii average
  • The cost of living in Kahului is 73% higher than the national average
  • Kahului housing is 176% higher than the national average
  • Hawaii general sales tax is 22% lower than the national average
  • Hawaii state income tax is 38% lower than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Kahului

See all the best places to live around Kahului

Compare Kahului, HI 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$100,620$8,385$2,348$3,019
      Renters$51,383$4,282$1,199$1,542
      A good way to judge both the affordability of the housing and the cost of living in Kahului is by simply calculating the maximum that should be spent on housing, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). The plan is to avoid spending more than 28 percent of the gross income on costs that pertain to housing and no more than 36 percent on all expenses and debts. Kahului has a median income of about $100,620 for people who own homes. Based on that number, a maximum of $2,348 should be spent on expenses related to housing. Renters have a slightly different median income, which is $51,383. Based on this average, renters should spend no more than $1,199 on all rental costs if they want to maintain a non-impoverished standard of living.

      Hawaii Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      Hawaii 4% 4.712%

      Hawaii Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      Hawaii 1.4% 11%

      Goods & Services

      Item Kahului National avg. Difference
      Haircut $19.47$24.2619.8%
      Beauty Salon $76.67$45.5668.3%
      Toothpaste $3.68$3.700.6%
      Shampoo $1.73$1.2834.8%
      Movie $15.08$12.1324.3%
      Bowling $25.33$18.0040.7%

      Groceries

      Item Kahului National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.42$5.847.2%
      Fried Chicken $2.85$1.5781.0%
      Milk $5.38$4.6715.1%
      Potatoes $5.94$4.9320.4%
      Pizza $14.99$12.0924.0%
      Beer $12.01$10.4115.4%

      Health Care

      Item Kahului National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $236.67$125.6888.3%
      Doctor $191.36$135.7840.9%
      Dentist $114.44$113.291.0%
      Ibuprofen $11.35$10.656.6%
      Lipitor $573.90$468.6022.5%

      Housing

      Item Kahului National avg. Difference
      Home Price $617,500.00$184,700.00234.3%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $8,008.77$2,346.69241.3%
      Apartment Rent $1,333.00$949.0040.5%

      Transportation

      Item Kahului National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $4.80$3.4638.8%
      Tire Balancing $75.37$59.9225.8%

      Utilities

      Item Kahului National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $359.53$193.9985.3%
      Phone $184.47$192.254.0%
      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.
      Maalaea, HI25815150.8%
      Waihee-Waiehu, HI10,77116969.4%
      Wailuku, HI17,52317069.9%
      Makawao, HI7,98917675.9%
      Haliimaile, HI99717776.5%
      Kahului, HI29,99317373.4%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Madison Heights, MI30,000954.5%
      New Bern, NC29,985954.5%
      North Chicago, IL29,967973.2%
      Fitchburg, WI30,03212121.3%
      Burlingame, CA30,071336236.5%
      Kahului, HI29,99317373.4%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.