How Much Does It Cost to Live in Hawaii?
- Last updated on: December 12, 2022
What is the average cost of living in Hawaii?
The average cost of living in Hawaii is $2,457.72 per month.
Hawaii is known for its parallel beauty and outdoor adventures, but it is one of the most remote states in the United States. With its unmatched beauty and endless opportunities for exploring the outdoors, it is customary to wonder whether Hawaii is livable.
The cost of living in Hawaii is indeed high, and it is considered the most expensive state in the United States. Even the cost of basic food and essential items in Hawaii is quite costly because 90% of the food and other necessary items are imported.
Although Hawaii has a relatively strong job market, moving to Hawaii is a luxury which is not if not budgeted properly. According to numbeo.com, the median rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Honolulu’s city center is $1,082 per month.
If you’re tempted to move to this expansive state, keep reading to learn what the Hawaii cost of living looks like!
(*Upnest & Car Shipping Hawaii)
Cost of living in Hawaii - 2023
Housing cost in Hawaii
The housing cost in Hawaii greatly varies from location to location. Places away from tourist areas and the coast are cheap. However, properties near the beaches are premium and make a living there less affordable.
Below is the list of the average rental prices of some famous cities in Hawaii:
CITY | STUDIO | 1 BEDROOM | 2 BEDROOM | 3 BEDROOM | 4 BEDROOM |
HONOLULU | $1,331 | $1,082 | $1,937 | $2,786 | $2,980 |
HILO | $1350 | $1,065 | $1,531 | $1,093 | $396 |
KAILUA | $1,706 | $2,100 | $2,550 | $3,400 | $5,625 |
WAIPAHU | $1,600 | $1,650 | $2,050 | $3.037 | $3,548 |
MAUI COUNTY | $1600 | $ 1,638 | $2,050 | $3,000 | $3,500 |
Below is the list of the housing costs to buy an apartment in some famous cities in Hawaii:
APARTMENT | PRICE PER SQUARE METER |
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Center | $754.62 |
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Center | $559.00 |
CITY | MEDIAN COST |
HONOLULU | $540,000 |
HILO | $489,000 |
KAILUA | $489,000 |
WAIPAHU | $395,000 |
MAUI COUNTY | $589,000 |
Since Hawaii is a vast state, the home prices may vary greatly depending on the location.
What is the average rent cost for a 1-bedroom apartment in Hawaii?
The median rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in the city is $1,082.00 per month.
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Utility cost in Hawaii: Internet, electricity & water
Whether you own a house or pay the rent, you must cover the utility cost. Unfortunately, utility bills are very high in Hawaii compared to other states. Hawaii’s residents pay the most expensive monthly electricity bills, an average of $0.26-$0.30/kWh (while the US average cost is $0.13/kWh).
The average basic utility package that includes heating, electricity, water, and garbage in some famous cities of Hawaii is as follows:
UTILITIES | COST PER MONTH in DIFFERENT CITIES OF HAWAII | ||||
HONOLULU | HILO | KAILUA | WAIPAHU | MAUI COUNTY | |
Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment | $275.61 | $139.26 | $287.50 | $275.61 | $347.00 |
Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) | $62.43 | $72.25 | $54.67 | $54.67 | $60.00 |
(*Numbeo, Hiestates, Car Shipping Hawaii & Rent.com)
What is the average cost of utilities in Hawaii?
The average cost of utilities (Internet, electricity & water) in Hawaii is $600.00 per month.
Grocery cost in Hawaii
The food cost in Hawaii is relatively high because the products are imported. However, the prices of everyday food products such as milk, cheese, and bread are similar to what you find in the rest of the United States.
According to Numbeo.com data, the average grocery cost in some famous cities of Hawaii is as follows:
GROCERY | COST PER MONTH IN DIFFERENT CITIES IN HAWAII | |||||
HONOLULU | HILO | KAILUA | WAIPAHU | MAUI COUNTY | ||
Milk (regular), (1 gallon) | $6.73 | $5.56 | $6.00 | $6.00 | $5.86 | |
Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb) | $5.36 | $4.89 | $6.00 | $5.36 | $4.85 | |
Rice (white), (1 lb) | $3.12 | $1.89 | $4.00 | $3.12 | $1.13 | |
Local cheese (1 lb) | $8.10 | $5.89 | $6.00 | $6.00 | $7.78 | |
Chicken Filets (1 lb) | $8.25 | $4.24 | $6.00 | $8.25 | $12.00 | |
Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) | $8.33 | $7.24 | $5.50 | $5.50 | $5.79 | |
Apples (1 lb) | $3.34 | $2.24 | $2.67 | $2.67 | $3.70 | |
Banana (1 lb) | $2.10 | $1.45 | $1.57 | $1.57 | $2.05 | |
Oranges (1 lb) | $3.13 | $2.32 | $1.75 | $1.75 | $3.50 | |
Tomato (1 lb) | $3.07 | $4.19 | $3.17 | $3.07 | $2.26 | |
Potato (1 lb) | $2.33 | $1.52 | $1.50 | $1.50 | $2.00 | |
Onion (1 lb) | $2.29 | $2.40 | $1.83 | $1.83 | $2.34 | |
Lettuce (1 head) | $4.33 | $3.20 | $3.33 | $3.33 | $2.50 | |
Water (1.5-litre bottle) | $2.22 | $2.19 | $2.33 | $2.22 | $1.91 | |
Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) | $17.00 | $12.00 | $12.00 | $14.99 | $22.00 | |
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) | $3.47 | $3.10 | $1.43 | $1.43 | $2.32 | |
However, the food costs may vary depending on your city.
(*Numbeo 1, Numbeo 2, Numbeo 3, Numbeo 4, Numbeo 5 & Balancing Everything)
What is the average cost of groceries for 1 person in Hawaii?
The average cost of utilities (Internet, electricity & water) in Hawaii is $333.42 per month.
Public transport in Hawaii
Hawaii public transportation is well developed, easily accessible, and affordable. Moreover, taxi services are available on all islands. However, driving during rush hours is a real problem.
Below is the list of public transport cost comparisons between some famous cities in Hawaii:
TRANSPORTATION | COST PER MONTH IN DIFFERENT CITIES OF HAWAII | ||||
HONOLULU | HILO | KAILUA | WAIPAHU | MAUI COUNTY | |
MetroCards costs (single ride) | $2.88 | $2.00 | $2.75 | $2.75 | $4.00 |
MetroCards Cost (Per Month) | $70.00 | $40.50 | $70.00 | $80 | $80 |
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff) | $3.50 | $3.25 | $3.50 | $3.45 | $3.50 |
Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff) | $3.00 | $3.20 | $3.50 | $3.00 | $3.00 |
Gasoline (1 Gallon) | $5.12 | $5.48 | 5.00$ | $5.15 | $5.42 |
(*Numbeo, Travel.USNews.com & Car Shipping Hawaii)
What is the Hawaii Metro monthly pass price?
The Hawaii MetroCard monthly pass price is $70.00 in 2022.
Booking trustworthy movers starts here
Compare multiple moving quotes calculated across the same metrics
Entertainment costs in Hawaii
Hawaii is a beautiful place to adventure and has endless beauty for exploring the outdoors. In addition, it offers its residents a wealth of local activities and unique areas to see, such as beaches and gardens. According to Numbeo.com data, the entertainment costs in Hawaii are as follows:
ENTERTAINMENT | COSTS IN DIFFERENT CITIES OF HAWAII | ||||
HONOLULU | HILO | KAILUA | WAIPAHU | MAUI COUNTY | |
Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant | $18.00 | $15.00 | $15.00 | $15.00 | $23.75 |
Taxi 1-hour Waiting (Normal Tariff) | $40.05 | $31.50 | $40.00 | $36.00 | $40.00 |
Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat | $15.00 | $12.00 | $12.00 | $12.00 | $13.50 |
(*Numbeo & Car Shipping Hawaii)
What is the average cost of entertainment in Hawaii?
The average cost of entertainment in Hawaii is $65 per month.
Healthcare costs in Hawaii
Healthcare is an essential expense. Therefore, we always include healthcare costs in our budget when moving to any place. The healthcare cost in Hawaii is high; however, the prices vary among the wide selection of health plans.
The healthcare costs in Hawaii are as follows:
HEALTHCARE | COST |
Employer-Sponsored Healthcare for one person per month | $224.30 |
Employer-Sponsored Healthcare for a family per month | $1,216.00 |
Non-Employer-Sponsored Healthcare for one person | $468.00 |
Non-Employer-Sponsored Healthcare Couple with at least one child | $1,274.00 |
Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult | $65.00 |
(*Valuepenguin, Numbeo & eHealth)
What is the average cost of a gym membership in Hawaii?
The average cost of a gym membership in Hawaii is $65.00 per month.
Sales tax in Hawaii
The Hawaii sales tax rate is currently 4%. The county sales tax rate is 0.5% and the entire state, county, and city sales tax rates are 4.5%.
(*Avalara)
Conclusion
Moving to Hawaii is challenging because the cost of living in Hawaii is high. Nevertheless, if rightly budgeted, you can live in Hawaii in no time. First, calculate the average cost of living in Hawaii, as mentioned in the table below:
Average monthly cost of living in Hawaii
Category
Description
Cost
Housing
Average rent price for a 1 bedroom apartment + Employer-Sponsored Healthcare for one person + Average utilities cost
$1,082 + $224.3 + $550
Transportation
Metro Pass (1 month)
$ 80.00
Food
Average grocery cost per person per month
$310.15
Internet
Internet (60 MPs or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL)
$ 50.00
Entertainment (for 1 time only)
Meal Inexpensive restaurant + Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat + Taxi 1-hour Waiting
$18.00 + $40.00 + $15.00
Health and Fitness
Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult
$65.00
Total
Sum
$2,457.72
Note: The cost mentioned above may vary; for instance, if you are living with someone, your cost will be considerably low. Also, if you have a family, you will need to add the cost of each family member. Finally, the price may also vary depending upon the area you select to live in.
(*Hawaii News Now)
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