The average cost of living in Hawaii is $2,739.76 per month.
Hawaii is known for its beauty and outdoor adventures. It is also known for the mass production and massive plantations of pineapples. That’s why some call it Pineapple Island. 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 one of the most expensive states in the United States. Experts mentioned that a comfortable life in Hawaii would require an annual income of at least $80,000 to $100,000 for a single person.
Although Hawaii has a relatively strong job market, moving to Hawaii is a luxury that is not, if not budgeted properly, according to numbeo.com, the rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Honolulu’s city center is $2,201.33 per month.
If you’re tempted to move to this expansive state, keep reading to learn what the cost of living in Hawaii looks like!
Numbeo (Oct 2023) & Yahoo Finance (June 2023)
Methodology
The main data collection source for this article is Numbeo and trusted city-related websites, including The Bus Transit and Dept. of Taxation Hawaii. The costs presented are estimates and pertain to an individual living alone on a monthly basis.
Cost of Living in Hawaii – 2024
Housing costs 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 in Honolulu, Hawaii:
Cost of rent in Honolulu, Hawaii
|
Area/Neighborhood |
1-bed apartment |
3-bed apartment |
|
Hawaii (Outside of Center) |
$1,759.52 |
$3,350.00 |
Cost of buying a property in Hawaii
|
Area/Neighborhood |
Average home price |
|
Hawaii |
$792,997 |
Utility costs in Hawaii: Internet, electricity and water
Whether you own a house or pay the rent, you must cover the utility costs. Unfortunately, utility bills are very high in Hawaii compared to other states. Hawaii currently has the highest residential electricity costs in the U.S. at 44.81 cents per kilowatt-hour, up from 33.21 cents in 2022, while the national average stands at 15.46 cents per kilowatt-hour.
The average basic utility package that includes heating, electricity, water, and garbage for 915 sq ft apartment in Honolulu, Hawaii is as follows:
|
Utilities |
Cost |
|
Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment |
$297.55 |
|
Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) |
$67.35 |
|
Total |
$364.90 |
US Energy Info Administration (July 2023) & Numbeo (Oct 2023)
Ad
Grocery costs in Hawaii
Did you know that, Hawaii, located nearly 2,500 miles from the nearest continent, imports over 80% of its food annually, costing up to $3 billion? This is why food costs are so high here. See details in the chart below.
|
Grocery items in Hawaii |
Cost |
|
Milk (regular), (1 gallon) |
$7.66 |
|
Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb) |
$6.11 |
|
Rice (white) (1 lb) |
$3.37 |
|
Eggs (regular) (12) |
$7.61 |
|
Local Cheese (1 lb) |
$8.53 |
|
Chicken Filets (1 lb) |
$6.72 |
|
Beef Round (1 lb) |
$10.22 |
|
Apples (1 lb) |
$2.90 |
|
Banana (1 lb) |
$1.86 |
|
Oranges (1 lb) |
$2.93 |
|
Tomato (1 lb) |
$3.47 |
|
Potato (1 lb) |
$2.11 |
|
Onion (1 lb) |
$2.22 |
|
Lettuce (1 head) |
$4.17 |
|
Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) |
$17.99 |
|
Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle) |
$1.81 |
|
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) |
$4.21 |
Public transit 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.
|
Type of fare |
Rate |
|
Single ticket |
$3.00 |
|
Daily pass |
$7.50 |
|
Weekly pass |
$30.00 |
|
Monthly pass |
$80.00 |
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.
|
Entertainment in Hawaii |
Cost |
|
Mid-range restaurant meal |
$42.50 |
|
Taxi 1h |
$48.00 |
|
1 cinema ticket |
$15.00 |
|
Total |
$105.50 |
Sales tax in Hawaii
In Hawaii, there is no sales tax; instead, they have the General Excise Tax (GET) applied to all business activities. The tax rate varies, with rates of 0.15% for insurance commission, 0.5% for wholesaling, manufacturing, producing, wholesale services, and use tax on imports for resale, and 4% for all other activities.
Dept. of Taxation Hawaii (Oct 2023)
Healthcare costs in Hawaii
Hawaii does not have a specific health insurance mandate for individuals, but promotes coverage through the Hawaii Prepaid Health Care Act, enacted in 1974. This law mandates most employers to provide group health insurance to their employees.
|
Type of healthcare |
Cost |
|
Employer-sponsored health insurance |
$80.83 |
|
Non-employer-sponsored health insurance (average cheapest) |
$278.13 |
|
Gym |
$54.28 |
Numbeo (Oct 2023) & EHealthInsurance (Oct 2023)
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, and look for the best Hawaii movers to assist you with your move.
|
Category |
Monthly cost |
|
1 bed apt rent outside city center |
$1,759.52 |
|
Groceries Numbeo’s grocery list ($95.35 multiplied by 4) |
$375.56 |
|
Utilities Electricity, heating, cooling, water, garbage |
$297.55 |
|
Internet with 60 Mbps |
$67.35 |
|
Transit pass |
$80.00 |
|
Entertainment Meal, taxi, movie |
$105.50 |
|
Gym membership |
$54.28 |
|
Total |
$2,739.76 |
