What is the cost of living in Lihue, HI?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Lihue has an overall cost of living index of 175, which is 1.8x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Hawaii, Lihue has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than Hawaii's index of 163.
The standard of living in Lihue ranks as #26 most affordable out of the 52 places we measured in Hawaii. By definition, that implies Lihue ranks as the #26 most expensive place in the Aloha State.
For more reading on life in Lihue, check out:
Lihue Cost Of Living Vs. Hawaii
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Lihue. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Lihue is 123.
The Groceries index in Lihue is 115.
The Health index in Lihue is 293.
The Housing index in Lihue is 115.
The Transportation index in Lihue is 132.
The Utilities index in Lihue is 125.
| Living Expense | Lihue | Hawaii | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 175 | 163 | 100 |
| Services | 123 | 124 | 100 |
| Groceries | 115 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 293 | 253 | 100 |
| Housing | 115 | 123 | 100 |
| Transportation | 132 | 132 | 100 |
| Utilities | 125 | 128 | 100 |
Lihue 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 Lihue Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Lihue, 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 Lihue is $864,446.
The Median Rent in Lihue is $1,956.
The Median Income in Lihue is $92,850.
The Home Value To Income in Lihue is 9.3x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Lihue is 0.25x.
Lihue, HI Costs By Category
Detailed Lihue Services costs vs. Hawaii
Detailed Lihue Groceries costs vs. Hawaii
Detailed Lihue Health costs vs. Hawaii
Detailed Lihue Transportation costs vs. Hawaii
Lihue SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Lihue
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Lihue. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Kapaa, HI has a cost of living index of 169, 1.0x Lihue.
Wailua Homesteads, HI has a cost of living index of 185, 1.1x Lihue.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Lihue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kapaa, HI | 11,094 | 169 | 1.0x |
| Wailua Homesteads, HI | 5,431 | 185 | 1.1x |
