Cost of Living in Hawaii
Updated November 2026 · population 1,445,235
Hawaii prices are 10.0% above the US average (index 110.0), ranking 2nd most expensive of 51 states and DC; utilities is the biggest cost driver at 190.2, and a single adult's modelled budget at state-average prices is about $3,417 a month.
Prices by category
Hawaii price index by category, US average = 100: All items 110.0, Housing (rents) 125.3, Goods 111.6, Utilities 190.2, Other services 102.9
| Area | All items |
|---|---|
| Hawaii (whole state) | 110.0 |
| Metropolitan areas of Hawaii | 110.7 |
| Nonmetropolitan areas of Hawaii | 106.4 |
Cities in Hawaii
Select a column heading to sort.
| Honolulu | 345,482 | 107.7 | $3,496 | $6,877 | $1,823 | $843,400 |
| East Honolulu | 51,360 | 124.2 | $4,139 | $7,985 | $3,313 | $1,212,000 |
| Hilo | 50,404 | 103.8 | $2,804 | $6,103 | $1,427 | $483,000 |
| Kailua-Kona | 21,818 | 107.5 | $3,437 | $6,473 | $1,754 | $667,400 |
Metro areas in Hawaii
| Metro area | All items | Housing |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Honolulu, HI | 111.0 | 135.5 |
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | 109.4 | 119.2 |
BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 for metropolitan statistical areas that include part of Hawaii.
Modelled monthly budget at Hawaii average prices
1 adult · 1-bedroom · modelled estimate for Hawaii (state average)
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $1,401 | $16,812 | 41% |
| Utilities | $458 | $5,496 | 13% |
| Food at home | $315 | $3,780 | 9% |
| Transportation | $699 | $8,388 | 20% |
| Health care | $362 | $4,344 | 11% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $182 | $2,184 | 5% |
| Total | $3,417 | $41,004 | 100% |
2 adults · 2-bedroom · modelled estimate for Hawaii (state average)
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $1,824 | $21,888 | 33% |
| Utilities | $732 | $8,784 | 13% |
| Food at home | $581 | $6,972 | 10% |
| Transportation | $1,383 | $16,596 | 25% |
| Health care | $670 | $8,040 | 12% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $360 | $4,320 | 6% |
| Total | $5,550 | $66,600 | 100% |
2 adults + 2 children · 3-bedroom · modelled estimate for Hawaii (state average)
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $2,398 | $28,776 | 34% |
| Utilities | $891 | $10,692 | 13% |
| Food at home | $829 | $9,948 | 12% |
| Transportation | $1,840 | $22,080 | 26% |
| Health care | $625 | $7,500 | 9% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $465 | $5,580 | 7% |
| Total | $7,048 | $84,576 | 100% |
state figures Rents are Census ACS state medians by bedrooms. See the methodology.
Electricity and gas and inflation
Residential electricity
47.18¢/kWh, August 2026
12-month change +22.5% · US 18.16¢
Regular gasoline regional figure: West Coast excl. California (PADD 5)
$4.77/gal, week of 2026-11-02
12-month change +25.9% · US $4.15
Consumer prices in the West region rose +3.4% over the 12 months to September 2026 (US +3.7%; BLS CPI-U).
Price level history
| Year | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | 111.8 | 113.3 | 112.6 | 111.1 | 109.7 | 110.0 |
Change over the period: −1.8 points. Each year is measured relative to that year's US average.
Frequently asked questions
Is Hawaii an expensive state to live in?
Hawaii has a cost of living index of 110.0 (US = 100), 10.0% above the US average. It ranks 2nd of 51 (1 = most expensive). Housing is 125.3 (rank 7), goods 111.6, utilities 190.2 and other services 102.9. Source: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024.
How much does it cost to live in Hawaii?
At Hawaii state-average prices, our modelled monthly budget is $3,417 for a single adult, $5,550 for a couple and $7,048 for a family of four, before taxes and child care. Costs vary widely within the state: metro areas average 110.7 and nonmetro areas 106.4.
What is the median rent and home value in Hawaii?
The median gross rent in Hawaii is $1,971 a month and the median home value is $839,100 (Census ACS 2020-2024). The typical renter spends 33.2% of income on rent.
Sources
- BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 (state, state metro and nonmetro portions, MSAs).
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year 2020-2024, state 15.
- EIA-861M residential electricity (August 2026); EIA weekly retail gasoline (West Coast excl. California (PADD 5), 2026-11-02).
- BLS CPI-U, West region (September 2026).
Budgets are modelled estimates, not observed spending. Not financial advice. Methodology