What is the cost of living in Wailuku, HI?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Wailuku has an overall cost of living index of 170, which is 1.7x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Hawaii, Wailuku has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than Hawaii's index of 163.
The standard of living in Wailuku ranks as #17 most affordable out of the 52 places we measured in Hawaii. By definition, that implies Wailuku ranks as the #35 most expensive place in the Aloha State.
For more reading on life in Wailuku, check out:
Wailuku Cost Of Living Vs. Hawaii
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Wailuku. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Wailuku is 129.
The Groceries index in Wailuku is 119.
The Health index in Wailuku is 269.
The Housing index in Wailuku is 120.
The Transportation index in Wailuku is 131.
The Utilities index in Wailuku is 128.
| Living Expense | Wailuku | Hawaii | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 170 | 163 | 100 |
| Services | 129 | 124 | 100 |
| Groceries | 119 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 269 | 253 | 100 |
| Housing | 120 | 123 | 100 |
| Transportation | 131 | 132 | 100 |
| Utilities | 128 | 128 | 100 |
Wailuku 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 Wailuku Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Wailuku, 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 Wailuku is $924,155.
The Median Rent in Wailuku is $1,762.
The Median Income in Wailuku is $102,942.
The Home Value To Income in Wailuku is 9.0x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Wailuku is 0.21x.
Wailuku, HI Costs By Category
Detailed Wailuku Services costs vs. Hawaii
Detailed Wailuku Groceries costs vs. Hawaii
Detailed Wailuku Health costs vs. Hawaii
Detailed Wailuku Transportation costs vs. Hawaii
Wailuku SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Wailuku
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Wailuku. 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 Wailuku.
Kihei, HI has a cost of living index of 177, 1.0x Wailuku.
Waihee-Waiehu, HI has a cost of living index of 165, 1.0x Wailuku.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Wailuku |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kahului, HI | 28,288 | 170 | 1.0x |
| Kihei, HI | 21,567 | 177 | 1.0x |
| Waihee-Waiehu, HI | 10,988 | 165 | 1.0x |
| Lahaina, HI | 10,162 | 189 | 1.1x |
| Haiku-Pauwela, HI | 9,178 | 203 | 1.2x |
| Pukalani, HI | 8,679 | 179 | 1.1x |
| Makawao, HI | 7,353 | 175 | 1.0x |
| Napili-Honokowai, HI | 7,308 | 184 | 1.1x |
| Kula, HI | 6,791 | 228 | 1.3x |
| Wailea, HI | 6,352 | 236 | 1.4x |
