| Index | Lahaina | Hawaii | National |
| Cost of living | 187 | 163 | 100 |
| Groceries | 127 | 126 | 100 |
| Health care | 119 | 119 | 100 |
| Housing | 333 | 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 |
Knowing the cost of living in Lahaina allows individuals to create a realistic budget. This helps them understand how their income will cover expenses and whether they need to make financial adjustments. The cost of living in any region can fluctuate due to various factors. To assess the cost of living consistently across different areas, a national average of 100 serves as the basis for the cost of living index. The cost of living in Lahaina stands at 187, marking it 87% higher than the national average.
The cost of living in Lahaina 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, Lahaina falls into this category, which may not be suitable for those seeking an economically favorable living environment.
Housing costs significantly influence the Lahaina 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 232.6%. This entails elements such as housing and rental prices, mortgage interest rates and insurance costs.
Everyday household expenses like cleaning products, laundry detergent, toiletries, and kitchen basics can quickly add up over time and make up 8% of the cost of living index. In Lahaina, you can expect to spend 16.3% more than average on these recurring essentials, which increases your overall monthly cost of living.
Groceries are getting more expensive by the day and the cost of groceries makes up 13% of the overall cost of living index. In the past two years, prices have shot up by over 10%! Unfortunately, in Lahaina, it's the same story – grocery costs are 27% higher than what people pay across the country.
Wondering if Lahaina 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 Lahaina, for example, the median home price is 307.8% higher than what folks pay nationally, and monthly rent is 57.3% higher than the usual rates. Plus, income levels matter too, with Lahaina boasting a median household income of $115,429, which is 41.9% higher than the national average.
Subsidies: Certain cities or states may implement government subsidies or assistance programs with the goal of alleviating the cost of living pressures on their residents. These programs encompass a broad spectrum of support mechanisms, including Medicare, Medicaid, housing subsidies, low-income home energy assistance programs, school lunch programs, supplemental nutrition assistance programs, student loans, electric vehicle tax credits, affordable care act subsidies and farming subsidies. Areas offering fewer subsidies may experience a rise in their cost of living.
Taxes: Areas with higher taxes, including sales taxes and income taxes, can contribute to a higher cost of living. Paying more tax for everyday household expenses like clothing and food will result in higher costs, as will paying a higher rate of income tax. The general sales tax rate in Lahaina starts at 4% and the income tax rates start at 1.4%.
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 Lahaina, the transportation index is 19.9% higher than the national average.
The Lahaina cost of living estimates above use a normalized U.S. average of 100 as the baseline for comparison. Housing values incorporate local home price and rental information from the U.S. Census, while all other estimates are AI-assisted and modeled using expected everyday expenses, local market trends, climate, and transportation-related cost pressures. The results are intended for practical 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 | $159,896 | $13,325 | $3,731 | $4,797 |
| Renters | $94,284 | $7,857 | $2,200 | $2,829 |
| 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. |
| Ualapue, HI | 492 | 134 | 34.3% |
| 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% |
| Lahaina, HI | 13,680 | 187 | 86.7% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Baker, LA | 13,684 | 91 | 8.8% |
| New Ulm, MN | 13,686 | 94 | 5.7% |
| Auburn, IN | 13,673 | 89 | 10.6% |
| Rendon, TX | 13,673 | 109 | 9.2% |
| Montgomeryville, PA | 13,672 | 124 | 24.5% |
| Lahaina, HI | 13,680 | 187 | 86.7% |
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