| Index | Kihei | Hawaii | National |
| Cost of living | 176 | 163 | 100 |
| Groceries | 127 | 126 | 100 |
| Health care | 119 | 119 | 100 |
| Housing | 296 | 252 | 100 |
| Transportation | 120 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 130 | 131 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 126 | 127 | 100 |
| Household Items | 116 | 115 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 132 | 132 | 100 |
The cost of living in Kihei affects the quality of life one can afford in this new location. It allows people to assess whether they can maintain their preferred lifestyle, including housing, leisure activities and dining options. Your total monthly expenditures can varry depending on the area, as well as many other factors. The cost of living in Kihei is 176, which is 76% higher than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.
The cost of living in Kihei 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, Kihei falls into this category, which may not be suitable for those seeking an economically favorable living environment.
Housing costs significantly influence the Kihei cost of living index, typically accounting for a substantial portion of one's post-tax income. Regrettably, within this particular region, expenses related to both residential ownership and renting exceeded those observed in an average city by 196.5%. This entails elements such as housing and rental prices, mortgage interest rates and insurance costs.
The routine items you regularly buy for your home, such as cleaning supplies, personal care products, clothing basics, and kitchen essentials, make up 8% of the cost of living index. In Kihei, these items cost 16.3% more than the national average, making day-to-day living a bit more expensive.
The cost of groceries continues to rise at an alarming rate. Over the last two years, grocery prices have increased by more than 10%! Unfortunately, in Kihei, the news isn't any better as grocery prices are 27% higher than the national average.
Is Kihei an affordable place to live? It's a good question and one that you might want to ask when considering any new city, as affordability can play a huge role in the decision making process. The cost of living index (which we covered above), as well as housing costs and income levels play a vital role in determining the affordability of an area. The median home price in Kihei is 250.1% higher than the national average, while the average monthly rent prices are 71.4% higher than average. The affordability of any location can also be influenced by median income levels. Kihei has a median household income of $125,133, which is 53.9% higher than the national average.
Taxes: Locations with elevated tax rates, encompassing both sales and income taxes, can be a factor in driving up the cost of living. When you're paying more in taxes for everyday household expenses, it naturally translates into higher expenses. Similarly, a higher income tax rate can also contribute to an overall higher cost of living. In Kihei, the standard sales tax rate starts at 4%, and the income tax rates commence at 1.4%.
Housing: A sought-after location with high housing demand often leads to increased property values and rental rates, which can significantly inflate the overall cost of living. Conversely, areas with low housing demand, particularly in less desirable locales, tend to experience the opposite effect, causing prices to drop and contributing to a more affordable cost of living. In Kihei, the housing index stands at 196.5% higher than the national average.
Groceries: Grocery costs have continued to increase significantly over the last 2-3 years. In some markets the cost of food has gone up by more than 20% in that period. While other markets have managed to see only a moderate uptick. These food costs can have a major impact on the cost of living in any area. In Kihei, the groceries index is 27% higher than the national average.
The Kihei cost of living data displayed above uses a U.S. average baseline of 100 to provide a practical way to compare living expenses across cities. Housing estimates incorporate U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all other values are generated using AI-assisted models based on everyday expense expectations, regional pricing trends, climate, transportation patterns, and local economic conditions. These values are designed for directional city-to-city comparisons.
| Cost of living index | |
| Groceries index | |
| Health care index | |
| Housing index | |
| Transportation index | |
| Utilities index | |
| Lifestyle index | |
| Household index | |
| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $156,001 | $13,000 | $3,640 | $4,680 |
| Renters | $92,630 | $7,719 | $2,161 | $2,779 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| Hawaii | 4% | 4.712% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| Hawaii | 1.4% | 11% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Maalaea, HI | 263 | 148 | 47.6% |
| Waihee-Waiehu, HI | 10,988 | 166 | 66.3% |
| Wailuku, HI | 17,886 | 168 | 67.6% |
| Kahului, HI | 30,867 | 171 | 70.6% |
| Makawao, HI | 8,162 | 174 | 74.4% |
| Kihei, HI | 23,616 | 176 | 75.8% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Dickinson, ND | 23,614 | 104 | 4.4% |
| Crystal, MN | 23,618 | 105 | 4.8% |
| Farragut, TN | 23,607 | 123 | 23.3% |
| L'Assomption, QC | 23,628 | n/a | |
| Eastmont, WA | 23,603 | 148 | 48.2% |
| Kihei, HI | 23,616 | 176 | 75.8% |
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