There’s more to Hawaii’s cheapest places to live than just sun-soaked beaches and epic surf breaks. Despite its reputation for high cost of living, you can find an affordable tropical paradise if you stop to look at the data.
At least relatively affordable.
If you’re dreaming of Hawaiian life but are on a budget, don’t worry; we’ve got you covered. We determined the most affordable place in Hawaii using Saturday Night Science. Consulting Hawaii’s census data for 2024, we looked at the cost of living and housing for every town in Hawaii.
Here’s where you can afford to splurge on a Big Kahuna Burger.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Table | FAQs | Summary
The 10 most affordable places to live in Hawaii
What is the cheapest place to live in Hawaii? The most affordable place to live in Hawaii for 2024 is Waianae.
Living in one of Hawaii’s most affordable places provides you extra money to do the fun things that Hawaii offers like take a puddle jumper from the Big Island to Maui or score tickets to Honolulu’s Ukulele Festival.
Check out some more reading about Hawaii and the cheapest places in the country:
The 10 Cheapest Places To Live In Hawaii For 2024
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Population: 13,749
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 141
Median Income: $77,435
Median Home Price: $590,487
Median Rent: $1,304
We’re taking a long swim up to O’ahu island to get to our cheapest place in Hawaii, Waianae. As the only place on this list with a median rent under $1,000/month, Wainae is a great place to try Hawaii out to see if it’s right for you. And if you lock down a job here, know that the median income is $77,435, which gives Wainae the 13th best rent to income ratio in the state.
And from snorkeling with the turtles at Makaha Beach to just chilling on the soft sand at Pokai Bay, we’re pretty sure money troubles won’t be on your mind here. If you do decide to settle down in Waianae, you’re in luck, because it has the eighth cheapest homes in Hawaii.
More on Waianae: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
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Population: 12,370
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 142
Median Income: $77,453
Median Home Price: $491,841
Median Rent: $1,621
Beaches, sun, and the pristine waters of the Pacific Ocean. Access to those usually costs a pretty penny. Nanakuli, Hawaii, lets you get that with a little bit of a bargain. The town represents the number 2 most affordable spot to live in the state.
Nanakuli is located on the island Oahu, about a 40-minute drive down the coast from Honolulu, the state capital and its biggest city. The 12,370 residents of the town can enjoy Nanakuli Beach Park or head inland to the Nanakuli Forest Preserve. And they get these natural wonders on the cheap.
The median home value in the area sits at $491,841. We know…that sounds high. But this is Hawaii, where property is expensive. That figure actually represents the seventh lowest mark in the state. The median rent comes in at $1,621 per month. The overall cost of living is about 50% above the national average, but that’s actually pretty good for the state. Hawaii as a whole runs about 75% more expensive that the U.S. standard.
Looking at other aspects of the economy, the median income stands at $77,453, while the unemployment rate hovers at 11.07%.
More on Nanakuli: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
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Population: 13,041
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 143
Median Income: $81,236
Median Home Price: $464,269
Median Rent: $1,087
We finish our list of cheapest places to live in Hawaii in Hawaiian Paradise Park. You won’t need to save up your coconuts very long to buy a home in Hawaiian Paradise Park, because the median home price here is $464,269, the lowest in the state by a very wide margin. And folks in Hawaiian Paradise Park pay the fourth smallest percentage of their income on homes statewide.
The only thing Hawaiian Paradise Park doesn’t have going for it is affordable rent, which keeps it from a higher position on this list. In any case, if you do settle down here, chances are you’ll have an awesome time sitting around a campfire at Kaloli Point, with all the mangoes and turtles your heart desires right at your feet.
More on Hawaiian Paradise Park: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
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Population: 5,393
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 144
Median Income: $91,703
Median Home Price: $605,059
Median Rent: $1,776
Waipio Acres is a great place to live if you are looking for an affordable option in Hawaii. With a median rent of $1,776 and a median home value of $605,059, this town has a cost of living that is lower than the state average. Despite its affordability, residents of Waipio Acres still enjoy a high median income of $91,703, which contributes to a favorable home price to income ratio of 6.60.
In addition to being budget-friendly, Waipio Acres offers a scenic environment that is perfect for individuals seeking a laid-back lifestyle. This town is located in close proximity to some of Hawaii’s most beautiful beaches and outdoor attractions. Waipio Acres provides an excellent combination of affordability and quality of life that makes it an ideal place to call home in Hawaii.
More on Waipio Acres: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
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Population: 10,042
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 145
Median Income: $57,235
Median Home Price: $436,915
Median Rent: $1,739
On the western shore of Oahu, Makaha ranks as the fifth most economical city in the state, backed by its below-average $436,915 median home value and a favorable home price to income ratio.
With a population size of 10,042, it has a cost of living index sitting at 145. And with surfing at Makaha Beach Park, there’s an unlimited amount of free fun.
More on Makaha: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
Definitely on the outside looking in. I’ve lived it what some would call the ghetto on the mainland. I currently live in Makaha and love it here. I drive through Nanakuli everyday on my way home. The worst part about living here is the traffic. Is there crime, well that’s a stupid question, where there are people there is crime. If you come here respecting the locals you won’t have much problems.
I feel safe in Makaha been here for many years with my family and we love it. You can still find plenty of Aloha from most people in Hawaii, don’t judge people and live life with Love and Aloha and you will find it is usually returned.
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Population: 47,627
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 148
Median Income: $75,589
Median Home Price: $489,606
Median Rent: $1,228
The biggest city to make this list and the third biggest city in Hawaii, Hilo ranks as the sixth cheapest place to live in the state. Hilo is a major tourist destination thanks to being the principal city on the Island of Hawai’i. Nature-lovers will definitely want to hit Akaka Falls State Park, while those with an interest in science or history will have a great day out at the Imiloa Astronomy Center. For both sets of people and everyone in between, Hilo has the sixth cheapest homes for sale in Hawaii, with a median price tag of $489,606. Talk about a sweet deal!
More on Hilo: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
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Population: 21,449
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 148
Median Income: $87,268
Median Home Price: $672,686
Median Rent: $1,708
Moving from the west to the east coast of O’ahu brings us to the seventh most affordable place to call home in Hawaii, Kailua. It’s also the place on this list closest to Honolulu, so when your friends come for a visit, they won’t have a long trip after their flight.
And between the beaches, nature trails, and markets, you’ll have plenty to show off when those visitors arrive. While you may be living in one of the states with the highest rent in America, you wouldn’t know it in Kailua, where the rent is about $1,000 less than the statewide average.
More on Kailua Cdp (Hawaii County): Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
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Population: 13,932
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 151
Median Income: $85,710
Median Home Price: $600,174
Median Rent: $1,854
Waimalu, in Honolulu County, ranks as the eighth most affordable city in Hawaii.
The overall cost of living is 13.2% lower than the Hawaiian average. That leaves more money in your pocket to schedule an exploration of the geographic legends of Waimalu between the East Loch of Pearl Harbor and the terraces in the Waimalu Stream.
More on Waimalu: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
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Population: 11,029
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 151
Median Income: $124,601
Median Home Price: $737,382
Median Rent: $1,922
Aloha and welcome to Waihee-Waiehu, the most affordable place to live in Hawaii for 2024. Homes in Waihee-Waiehu go for about $737,382 and the mediant rent is $1,922/month. While those numbers may seem a tad high, keep in mind that the median income in Waihee-Waiehu is $124,601, so residents have plenty of cash leftover after housing is paid for. In fact, residents of Waihee-Waiehu pay the fifth lowest percentage of their income on homes, and the seventh lowest on rent. Waihee-Waiehu is also home to the Waihee Ridge Trail, which will take you into the clouds to overlook the lush rainforest valley below.
Waihee-Waiehu is located in the east coast of western Maui.
More on Waihee-Waiehu: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
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Population: 12,114
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 153
Median Income: $105,625
Median Home Price: $662,699
Median Rent: $2,108
Maili is one of the most affordable places to live in Hawaii, making it a great option for those looking to save money while still enjoying the island lifestyle. With a median home value of $662,699 and a median rent of $2,108, Maili offers a lower cost of living compared to other areas in Hawaii.
Maili has beautiful beaches, hiking trails, and scenic views of the Pacific Ocean. Plus, with a population of 12,114, Maili provides a tight-knit community feel that many people crave.
More on Maili: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
Cheapest places to live in Hawaii FAQs
The county in Hawaii with the lowest cost of living is Maui County. The average living wage in Maui County is $103,095 according to MIT data. Maui County has the lowest cost of living because it has relatively less expensive childcare and housing costs compared to Hawaii as a whole. Childcare costs $15,986 a year in Maui County for two children compared to the Hawaii average of $17,959. Housing costs, defined as a blend of the average rent and average mortgage payment, are $21,264 per year in Maui County compared to $23,334 on average in Hawaii.
The cost of living in Hawaii is 20.0% higher than the US average. According to MIT, the required living wage for a family of four with two working parents in Hawaii is $107,702 vs the national average for a family of four with two working parents of $89,744. The median income of a Hawaii household is $83,173.
The cheapest housing market in Hawaii is Hickam Housing. The average home value in Hickam Housing is $0, the lowest in the state. The average home value in Hawaii is $636,400, almost nan times higher than Hickam Housing.
Methodology: How we determined the most affordable places to live in the Aloha State for 2024
Determining affordability for places in Hawaii boils down to how much it costs to live here.
You need to understand your costs relative to what people in the rest of the state are paying.
With that logic in mind, we derived several cost of living statistics from the latest Census American Community Survey 2018-2022 for Hawaii using Saturday Night Science. We indexed the cost of living statistics across the following categories:
- Housing
- Transportation
- Services
- Groceries
- Healthcare
- Utilities
These are then weighted together to produce an overall cost of living index where 100 is the United States average. Anything below 100 is relatively affordable. Anything over 100 is relatively expensive.
We applied the biggest weight to housing as it typically accounts for 25% or more of your budget. Additionally, housing costs are the highest variant cost across a state. We then compare these cost of living metrics for each place in Hawaii to figure out which is the least expensive.
The “Cost of Living Index” allows you to rank all of the 50 places in Hawaii that have more than 5,000 people from least expensive to most expensive. Any ties went to the larger city.
The place in Hawaii with the lowest cost of living according to the data is Waianae.
We updated this article for 2024. This report reflects our tenth time ranking the cheapest places to live in Hawaii.
Hawaii Affordabilility Summary
This is an accurate list of the most affordable places to live in Hawaii for 2024, if you’re looking at the cost of living numbers in Hawaii.
The cheapest cities in Hawaii are Waianae, Nanakuli, Hawaiian Paradise Park, Waipio Acres, Makaha, Hilo, Kailua CDP (Hawaii County), Waimalu, Waihee-Waiehu, and Maili.
Here’s a look at the most expensive cities in Hawaii according to the data:
- East Honolulu
- Wailea
- Kahaluu
For more Hawaii reading, check out:
Cheapest Places To Live In Hawaii
| Rank | City | Population | Cost Of Living Index | Median Income | Home Prices | Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Waianae | 13,749 | 141 | $77,435 | $590,487 | $1,304 |
| 2 | Nanakuli | 12,370 | 142 | $77,453 | $491,841 | $1,621 |
| 3 | Hawaiian Paradise Park | 13,041 | 143 | $81,236 | $464,269 | $1,087 |
| 4 | Waipio Acres | 5,393 | 144 | $91,703 | $605,059 | $1,776 |
| 5 | Makaha | 10,042 | 145 | $57,235 | $436,915 | $1,739 |
| 6 | Hilo | 47,627 | 148 | $75,589 | $489,606 | $1,228 |
| 7 | Kailua CDP (Hawaii County) | 21,449 | 148 | $87,268 | $672,686 | $1,708 |
| 8 | Waimalu | 13,932 | 151 | $85,710 | $600,174 | $1,854 |
| 9 | Waihee-Waiehu | 11,029 | 151 | $124,601 | $737,382 | $1,922 |
| 10 | Maili | 12,114 | 153 | $105,625 | $662,699 | $2,108 |
| 11 | Napili-Honokowai | 6,779 | 155 | $101,939 | $821,834 | $2,115 |
| 12 | Wailuku | 16,590 | 157 | $93,908 | $872,690 | $1,586 |
| 13 | Ewa Villages | 6,550 | 157 | $82,903 | $826,827 | $1,183 |
| 14 | Kihei | 22,247 | 159 | $89,892 | $1,082,813 | $1,899 |
| 15 | Kapaa | 10,846 | 161 | $87,895 | $881,980 | $1,829 |
| 16 | Kahului | 27,233 | 162 | $94,712 | $947,061 | $1,469 |
| 17 | Wahiawa | 17,400 | 163 | $81,433 | $804,544 | $1,411 |
| 18 | Ewa Beach | 15,167 | 163 | $114,207 | $852,428 | $2,310 |
| 19 | Waikele | 7,551 | 163 | $115,858 | $735,211 | $2,468 |
| 20 | Waikoloa Village | 7,418 | 163 | $103,135 | $670,515 | $1,707 |
| 21 | Ewa Gentry | 27,198 | 164 | $125,300 | $776,134 | $2,383 |
| 22 | Kapolei | 22,701 | 164 | $121,768 | $863,723 | $2,269 |
| 23 | Lihue | 8,649 | 165 | $73,641 | $815,376 | $1,819 |
| 24 | Makawao | 7,704 | 165 | $109,385 | $1,027,207 | $1,806 |
| 25 | Iroquois Point | 5,921 | 166 | $100,794 | $0 | $3,249 |
| 26 | Waipio | 11,138 | 167 | $99,815 | $705,468 | $2,117 |
| 27 | Lahaina | 12,906 | 169 | $83,443 | $1,085,380 | $1,828 |
| 28 | Waimanalo | 5,743 | 169 | $127,143 | $974,481 | $1,657 |
| 29 | Waipahu | 39,873 | 170 | $87,961 | $861,933 | $1,518 |
| 30 | Wailua Homesteads | 7,189 | 171 | $113,306 | $906,612 | $1,745 |
| 31 | West Loch Estate | 6,469 | 172 | $119,250 | $876,218 | $2,736 |
| 32 | Pukalani | 7,930 | 173 | $119,426 | $973,588 | $1,723 |
| 33 | Mililani Town | 27,423 | 174 | $119,502 | $918,444 | $2,227 |
| 34 | Makakilo | 21,055 | 176 | $115,435 | $820,097 | $2,071 |
| 35 | Schofield Barracks | 18,133 | 176 | $69,755 | $0 | $3,073 |
| 36 | Pearl City | 46,812 | 178 | $116,938 | $907,483 | $2,286 |
| 37 | Ahuimanu | 9,177 | 179 | $124,018 | $915,947 | $1,968 |
| 38 | Kahaluu-Keauhou | 7,001 | 179 | $87,472 | $824,874 | $1,888 |
| 39 | Laie | 5,411 | 180 | $108,965 | $1,277,549 | $2,425 |
| 40 | Halawa | 14,411 | 181 | $100,321 | $1,052,178 | $1,528 |
| 41 | Royal Kunia | 13,919 | 182 | $128,791 | $871,767 | $2,572 |
| 42 | Hickam Housing | 9,502 | 183 | $111,139 | $0 | $3,501 |
| 43 | Kaneohe | 35,493 | 184 | $120,451 | $1,031,688 | $2,039 |
| 44 | Ocean Pointe | 16,173 | 185 | $136,540 | $868,619 | $3,383 |
| 45 | Haiku-Pauwela | 9,245 | 192 | $94,495 | $990,304 | $2,533 |
| 46 | Aiea | 9,571 | 196 | $130,507 | $840,829 | $2,697 |
| 47 | Kula | 6,578 | 198 | $93,452 | $1,294,723 | $1,920 |
| 48 | Kahaluu | 5,065 | 202 | $123,365 | $1,229,332 | $2,161 |
| 49 | Wailea | 6,517 | 207 | $89,088 | $1,406,269 | $2,263 |
| 50 | East Honolulu | 49,491 | 214 | $151,224 | $1,212,724 | $3,130 |