What is the cost of living in Kapaa, HI?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Kapaa has an overall cost of living index of 169, which is 1.7x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Hawaii, Kapaa has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than Hawaii's index of 163.
The standard of living in Kapaa ranks as #14 most affordable out of the 52 places we measured in Hawaii. By definition, that implies Kapaa ranks as the #38 most expensive place in the Aloha State.
For more reading on life in Kapaa, check out:
Kapaa Cost Of Living Vs. Hawaii
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Kapaa. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Kapaa is 122.
The Groceries index in Kapaa is 118.
The Health index in Kapaa is 273.
The Housing index in Kapaa is 115.
The Transportation index in Kapaa is 129.
The Utilities index in Kapaa is 128.
| Living Expense | Kapaa | Hawaii | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 169 | 163 | 100 |
| Services | 122 | 124 | 100 |
| Groceries | 118 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 273 | 253 | 100 |
| Housing | 115 | 123 | 100 |
| Transportation | 129 | 132 | 100 |
| Utilities | 128 | 128 | 100 |
Kapaa Cost Of Living Compared To Hawaii Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Hawaii, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Kapaa Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Kapaa, HI Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Hawaii, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Kapaa is $948,643.
The Median Rent in Kapaa is $2,020.
The Median Income in Kapaa is $89,477.
The Home Value To Income in Kapaa is 10.6x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Kapaa is 0.27x.
Kapaa, HI Costs By Category
Detailed Kapaa Services costs vs. Hawaii
Detailed Kapaa Groceries costs vs. Hawaii
Detailed Kapaa Health costs vs. Hawaii
Detailed Kapaa Transportation costs vs. Hawaii
Kapaa SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Kapaa
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Kapaa. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Lihue, HI has a cost of living index of 175, 1.0x Kapaa.
Wailua Homesteads, HI has a cost of living index of 185, 1.1x Kapaa.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Kapaa |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lihue, HI | 7,901 | 175 | 1.0x |
| Wailua Homesteads, HI | 5,431 | 185 | 1.1x |
