F
53%
Overall NAT. AVG.
22%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
90%
Housing NAT. AVG.
Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; 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 Kailua CDP (Hawaii County) Hawaii National
Cost of living153176100
Goods & Services122128100
Groceries132144100
Health care128128100
Housing190252100
Transportation141146100
Utilities193201100
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An Overview of Cost of Living in Kailua CDP (Hawaii County), HI

Understanding the cost of living in Kailua CDP (Hawaii County) 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 Kailua CDP (Hawaii County) cost of living index is 153, which is 53% 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 you're in pursuit of an economical living environment, Kailua CDP (Hawaii County) may not fit the bill, as it ranks among the most expensive places to reside in the United States. Just a minority of regions exhibit a cost of living that is more than 20% higher than the national average, and, unfortunately, Kailua CDP (Hawaii County) falls within this bracket.

Housing costs are a major factor in the Kailua CDP (Hawaii County) cost of living index, and they often eat up a big chunk of your take-home pay. Unfortunately, in this area, housing expenses for both homeownership and rentals were 90% higher than what's typical in an average city. That includes the prices of homes and rents, as well as mortgage rates and insurance.

Recurring essentials like haircuts, toothpaste, and entertainment, from movies to gym sessions, can really add up in your budget and make up 33% of the cost of living index. In Kailua CDP (Hawaii County), you you will have to spend 22.3% more than average when compared to the typical prices 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, Kailua CDP (Hawaii County) is no exception, where grocery prices are 31.6% above the national average.

Is Kailua CDP (Hawaii County) Affordable?

Is Kailua CDP (Hawaii County) affordable? This is a pivotal question, especially when mulling over a move, as affordability carries substantial weight in your decision-making process. Factors such as the cost of living index (discussed earlier), housing expenses and income levels all contribute to a location's affordability. For instance, in Kailua CDP (Hawaii County), the median home price is 121.7% higher than the national average and monthly rent prices are 16.1% higher than the typical rates. Additionally, the median income levels play a role in affordability, with Kailua CDP (Hawaii County) boasting a median household income of $90,283, 11% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Kailua CDP (Hawaii County)?

Housing: When everyone's vying for homes in popular areas, it drives up property prices and rents, making the overall cost of living surge. On the flip side, in less sought-after locales, where housing demand is low, prices tend to dip, resulting in a more economical cost of living. In Kailua CDP (Hawaii County), the housing index comes in at 90% higher than the national average.

Healthcare: The costs associated with healthcare and insurance premiums can exhibit notable disparities based on the city or state of residence. Access to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for medical appointments, dental care charges, prescription medication costs and specialized medical care expenses all contribute to variations in the cost of living. In Kailua CDP (Hawaii County), healthcare costs are 27.8% higher than the national average.

Utilities: As with the prices of anything else, utility costs can exhibit significant variations, contingent on factors like climate, energy source availability, geographic location and state regulations. The expenses associated with electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can fluctuate, either upward or downward, depending on the particular city or state. In Kailua CDP (Hawaii County), the utilities index registers 93.1% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Kailua CDP (Hawaii County) cost of living data you see above is sourced from the C2ER cost of living index, providing a practical and accurate means of comparing living expenses in urban areas. Updated quarterly, this index gathers data from over 300 independent researchers, covering more than 60 goods and services, in 6 different categories. These selections are made meticulously to represent a wide range of consumer expenditure categories. The weightings applied to cost differences are based on government survey data that tracks spending patterns among professional and executive households. It's important to note that while the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, AreaVibes factors tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each region.

Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Kailua CDP (Hawaii County) is 13% lower than the Hawaii average
  • The cost of living in Kailua CDP (Hawaii County) is 53% higher than the national average
  • Kailua CDP (Hawaii County) housing is 90% higher than the national average
  • Hawaii general sales tax is 22% lower than the national average
  • Hawaii state income tax is 46% lower than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Kailua CDP (Hawaii County)

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      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$105,720$8,810$2,467$3,172
      Renters$83,226$6,936$1,942$2,497
      The affordability of the housing market in Kailua CDP (Hawaii County), HI 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 Kailua CDP (Hawaii County) homeowners, the median income is $105,720. This indicates that a monthly maximum of $2,467 should be spent by homeowners on all housing related costs. Renters have a median income of $83,226. This indicates that renters would have a maximum of $1,942 for their rent related monthly costs.

      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 Kailua CDP (Hawaii County) National avg. Difference
      Haircut $20.08$27.6227.3%
      Beauty Salon $73.33$51.1143.5%
      Toothpaste $4.06$4.090.8%
      Shampoo $1.86$1.5420.6%
      Movie $18.72$12.8845.4%
      Yoga $28.67$19.6645.8%

      Groceries

      Item Kailua CDP (Hawaii County) National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $8.13$7.705.5%
      Fried Chicken $3.22$1.6693.7%
      Milk $5.57$4.7317.7%
      Potatoes $5.38$5.262.4%
      Pizza $15.99$12.7625.3%
      Beer $12.16$10.5515.3%

      Health Care

      Item Kailua CDP (Hawaii County) National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $258.00$140.0684.2%
      Doctor $243.67$153.8258.4%
      Dentist $127.00$123.153.1%
      Ibuprofen $11.94$11.731.8%
      Lipitor $28.47$23.6120.6%

      Housing

      Item Kailua CDP (Hawaii County) National avg. Difference
      Home Price $724,030.00$326,622.00121.7%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $7,580.88$2,480.25205.7%
      Apartment Rent $1,676.00$1,444.0016.1%

      Transportation

      Item Kailua CDP (Hawaii County) National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $4.44$3.0645.3%
      Tire Balancing $85.40$65.2131.0%

      Utilities

      Item Kailua CDP (Hawaii County) National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $555.14$220.12152.2%
      Phone $188.92$195.713.5%
      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.
      Waimalu, HI14,08416564.7%
      Waimanalo Beach, HI4,37617373.2%
      Punaluu, HI1,15117978.9%
      Kaneohe Station, HI11,40418281.6%
      Waimanalo, HI5,78218281.8%
      Kailua CDP (Hawaii County), HI14,06215353.0%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Mississippi Mills, ON14,064n/a 
      Grimes, IA14,059982.2%
      Monticello, MN14,0581065.7%
      Beauharnois, QC14,056n/a 
      Lockhart, TX14,0709010.0%
      Kailua CDP (Hawaii County), HI14,06215353.0%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; this is the most current data available.