How Much You Need To Make To Live Comfortably in Hawaii’s 14 Largest Cities

by Nicole Spector, GoBankingRates, Sept 2024

Hawaii towers as the most expensive state in the U.S. in just about every category you can name. As such, it can be a tough place to financially get by, particularly if you’re living on a lean budget. Frankly, you need a plush income stream to comfortably live in this exorbitantly pricey state.

But how much do you need? Particularly if you’re single and don’t have a family to help provide for? 

In a new study, GOBankingRates analyzed cities in Hawaii to find the salary needed to live comfortably as a single person. Here are the salaries needed in all of the cities with populations over 10,000. Lahaina, being rebuilt after a fire destroyed most of the town in 2023, was excluded.

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Hilo

Population: 47,627
Household median income: $75,589  
Total cost of living annually: $60,206 
Salary needed to live comfortably: $120,411 

Waianae

Population: 13,749
Household median income: $70,819 
Total cost of living annually: $72,468  
Salary needed to live comfortably: $144,936 

Wahiawa

Population: 17,400
Household median income: $81,433  
Total cost of living annually: $85,240 
Salary needed to live comfortably: $170,479 

Ewa Beach

Population: 15,167
Household median income: $114,207  
Average single family home value: $865,087  
Total cost of living annually: $88,297 
Salary needed to live comfortably: $176,593

Kapolei

Population: 22,701
Household median income: $121,768 
Total cost of living annually: $89,205 
Salary needed to live comfortably: $178,410 

Waipahu

Population: 39,873
Household median income: $87,961 
Total cost of living annually: $90,417 
Salary needed to live comfortably: $180,834 

Kapaa

Population: 10,846
Household median income: $87,895 
Total cost of living annually: $91,668 
Salary needed to live comfortably: $183,336 

Pearl City

Population: 46,812
Household median income: $116,938 
Total cost of living annually: $92,301 
Salary needed to live comfortably: $184,601 

Wailuku

Population: 16,590
Household median income: $93,908  
Total cost of living annually: $93,408  
Salary needed to live comfortably: $186,815 

Kahului

Population: 27,233
Household median income: $94,712 
Total cost of living annually: $94,771  
Salary needed to live comfortably: $189,542 

Kaneohe

Population: 35,493
Household median income: $120,451 
Total cost of living annually: $101,694 
Salary needed to live comfortably: $203,387 

Honolulu

Population: 348,547
Household median income: $82,772 
Total cost of living annually: $112,875 
Salary needed to live comfortably: $225,751 

Kihei

Population: 22,247
Household median income: $89,892  
Total cost of living annually: $118,915 
Salary needed to live comfortably: $237,830 

Kailua

Population: 40,323
Household median income: $138,363 
Total cost of living annually: $127,857 
Salary needed to live comfortably: $255,714

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Methodology: GOBankingRates analyzed cities in Hawaii to find the salary needed to live comfortably as a single person. GOBankingRates found cities in Hawaii with their total population, population 65 and over, total households and household median income, all sourced from the U.S, Census American Community Survey. For each city, total population, total households, population 65 and over and median household income were all sourced from the U.S, Census American Community Survey, the cost-of-living indexes were sourced from Sperling’s BestPlaces, the average single-family home value was sourced from Zillow Home Value Index, and the livability index was sourced from AreaVibes. With the cost-of-living indexes and using the national average expenditure costs as sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey for a single person, the average cost of expenditures was found for each city. With the average home value, assuming a 10% down payment, and using the national average 30-year fixed mortgage rate as sourced from the Federal Reserve Economic Data, the average mortgage cost was calculated. Using the average mortgage and expenditure costs, the total cost of living was calculated. Using the 50/30/20 budgeting rule that states needs should not exceed 50% of the household income, the total cost of living was doubled to find the cost of living comfortably. Using the household median income and the total cost of living comfortably as a single person, the leftover savings were calculated for each city. All data was collected on and is up to date as of Sept. 18, 2024.