| Index | Waihee-Waiehu | Hawaii | National |
| Cost of living | 166 | 163 | 100 |
| Groceries | 127 | 126 | 100 |
| Health care | 119 | 119 | 100 |
| Housing | 265 | 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 |
Understanding the cost of living in Waihee-Waiehu 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 Waihee-Waiehu cost of living index is 166, which is 66% 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 prioritize affordability when seeking a new place to live, Waihee-Waiehu may not be your ideal choice, as it ranks among the most expensive locations in the entire United States. A very small amount of areas exhibit a cost of living at least 20% higher than the national average, and unfortunately, Waihee-Waiehu falls into this category, which may not align with your preferences for a budget-friendly living environment.
Housing costs significantly influence the Waihee-Waiehu 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 164.6%. This entails elements such as housing and rental prices, mortgage interest rates and insurance costs.
Recurring household expenses such as cleaning supplies, laundry detergent, toiletries, and kitchen basics are a steady part of monthly spending and make up 8% of the cost of living index. In Waihee-Waiehu, these everyday items will cost you 16.3% more than average, making it a slightly more expensive place to call home.
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 Waihee-Waiehu, it's the same story – grocery costs are 27% higher than what people pay across the country.
Is Waihee-Waiehu 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 Waihee-Waiehu is 213.1% higher than the national average, while the average monthly rent prices are 51.5% higher than average. The affordability of any location can also be influenced by median income levels. Waihee-Waiehu has a median household income of $162,280, which is 99.5% higher than the national average.
Utilities: Much like any other costs, utility expenses can exhibit considerable variations, influenced by factors such as climate, available energy sources, geographic location and state regulations. The costs associated with electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can vary significantly depending on the city or state in question. In Waihee-Waiehu, the utilities index stands at 30.2% higher than the national average.
Groceries: Over the past 2-3 years, grocery expenses have experienced substantial upward trends. In certain markets, food prices have surged by over 20% during this period, while others have witnessed more modest increases. These fluctuations in food costs can wield significant influence over the overall cost of living in a given region. In Waihee-Waiehu, the groceries index is 27% 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.
The Waihee-Waiehu 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.
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| Groceries index | |
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| Household index | |
| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $169,400 | $14,117 | $3,952 | $5,083 |
| Renters | $90,609 | $7,551 | $2,114 | $2,719 |
| 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% |
| Wailuku, HI | 17,886 | 168 | 67.6% |
| Kahului, HI | 30,867 | 171 | 70.6% |
| Makawao, HI | 8,162 | 174 | 74.4% |
| Haliimaile, HI | 1,017 | 175 | 74.8% |
| Waihee-Waiehu, HI | 10,988 | 166 | 66.3% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Burr Ridge, IL | 10,988 | 167 | 67.2% |
| Broomall, PA | 10,988 | 125 | 24.8% |
| Waipio, HI | 10,985 | 167 | 67.0% |
| Columbia, IL | 10,985 | 102 | 1.7% |
| St. Clements, MB | 10,993 | n/a | |
| Waihee-Waiehu, HI | 10,988 | 166 | 66.3% |
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