What is the cost of living in Makawao, HI?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Makawao has an overall cost of living index of 175, which is 1.8x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Hawaii, Makawao has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than Hawaii's index of 163.
The standard of living in Makawao ranks as #26 most affordable out of the 52 places we measured in Hawaii. By definition, that implies Makawao ranks as the #26 most expensive place in the Aloha State.
For more reading on life in Makawao, check out:
Makawao Cost Of Living Vs. Hawaii
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Makawao. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Makawao is 128.
The Groceries index in Makawao is 120.
The Health index in Makawao is 293.
The Housing index in Makawao is 118.
The Transportation index in Makawao is 131.
The Utilities index in Makawao is 128.
| Living Expense | Makawao | Hawaii | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 175 | 163 | 100 |
| Services | 128 | 124 | 100 |
| Groceries | 120 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 293 | 253 | 100 |
| Housing | 118 | 123 | 100 |
| Transportation | 131 | 132 | 100 |
| Utilities | 128 | 128 | 100 |
Makawao 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 Makawao Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Makawao, 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 Makawao is $1,103,697.
The Median Rent in Makawao is $1,908.
The Median Income in Makawao is $96,444.
The Home Value To Income in Makawao is 11.4x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Makawao is 0.24x.
Makawao, HI Costs By Category
Detailed Makawao Services costs vs. Hawaii
Detailed Makawao Groceries costs vs. Hawaii
Detailed Makawao Health costs vs. Hawaii
Detailed Makawao Transportation costs vs. Hawaii
Makawao SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Makawao
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Makawao. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Kahului, HI has a cost of living index of 170, 1.0x Makawao.
Kihei, HI has a cost of living index of 177, 1.0x Makawao.
Wailuku, HI has a cost of living index of 170, 1.0x Makawao.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Makawao |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kahului, HI | 28,288 | 170 | 1.0x |
| Kihei, HI | 21,567 | 177 | 1.0x |
| Wailuku, HI | 16,926 | 170 | 1.0x |
| Waihee-Waiehu, HI | 10,988 | 165 | 0.9x |
| Haiku-Pauwela, HI | 9,178 | 203 | 1.2x |
| Pukalani, HI | 8,679 | 179 | 1.0x |
| Kula, HI | 6,791 | 228 | 1.3x |
| Wailea, HI | 6,352 | 236 | 1.3x |
