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 2026, 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.
$88,348 median income · $1,310 median rent · #5 home prices in Hawaii
Located in
Hawaii County, Hawaii
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 $453,759, 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.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$81,779 median income · $1,427 median rent · #7 home prices in Hawaii
Located in
Hawaii County, Hawaii
The biggest city to make this list and the third biggest city in Hawaii, Hilo ranks as the second 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 seventh cheapest homes for sale in Hawaii, with a median price tag of $548,368. Talk about a sweet deal!
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$81,733 median income · $1,277 median rent · #8 home prices in Hawaii
Located in
Honolulu County, Hawaii
We’re taking a long swim up to O’ahu island to get to our third 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 $81,733, which gives Wainae the sixth 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.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$88,211 median income · $1,754 median rent · #11 home prices in Hawaii
Moving from the west to the east coast of O’ahu brings us to the fourth most affordable place to call home in Hawaii, Kailua. It’s also the place on this list closest to Honolulu, so when your (very jealous) 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.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$86,597 median income · $1,690 median rent · #6 home prices in Hawaii
Located in
Honolulu County, Hawaii
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 5 most affordable spot to live in the state.
Nanakuli is located on the island O»ahu, about a 40-minute drive down the coast from Honolulu, the state capital and its biggest city. The 12,383 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 (at least by Hawaii’s standards).
The median home value in the area sits at $485,029. We know…that sounds high. But this is Hawaii, where property is expensive. That figure actually represents the sixth lowest mark in the state. The median rent comes in at $1,690 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 $86,597, while the unemployment rate hovers at 11.23%.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$64,970 median income · $1,868 median rent · #4 home prices in Hawaii
Located in
Honolulu County, Hawaii
On the western shore of Oahu, Makaha ranks as the sixth most economical city in the state, backed by its below-average $391,120 median home value and a favorable home price to income ratio.
With a population size of 10,066, it has a cost of living index sitting at 144. And with surfing at Makaha Beach Park, there’s an unlimited amount of free fun.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$94,861 median income · $2,003 median rent · #14 home prices in Hawaii
Waipio Acres is a great place to live if you are looking for an affordable option in Hawaii. With a median rent of $2,003 and a median home value of $748,389, 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 $94,861, which contributes to a favorable home price to income ratio of 7.89.
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.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$89,232 median income · $1,931 median rent · #9 home prices in Hawaii
Located in
Honolulu County, Hawaii
Waimalu, in Honolulu County, ranks as the eighth most affordable city in Hawaii.
The overall cost of living is 5.5% 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.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$81,703 median income · $2,177 median rent · #16 home prices in Hawaii
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$111,542 median income · $2,420 median rent · #10 home prices in Hawaii
Located in
Honolulu County, Hawaii
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 $635,918 and a median rent of $2,420, 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 11,570, Maili provides a tight-knit community feel that many people crave.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
The receipts
Compare the top ten
Pick a metric. The bars rescale. The red line is Hawaii’s statewide median.
Hawaii statewide median: $832,967
Hawaii statewide median: $100,389
On the map
Where your money goes furthest in Hawaii
Saturday Night Science
Methodology: How we determined the most affordable places to live in the Aloha State for 2026
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 2020-2024 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 52 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 Hawaiian Paradise Park.
We updated this article for 2026. This report reflects our eleventh time ranking the cheapest places to live in Hawaii.
The full plate
Cheapest Places To Live In Hawaii
Click any column to sort. Search by city name.
| Rank | City | Population | Cost Of Living Index | Median Income | Home Prices | Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hawaiian Paradise Park | 13,203 | 132 | $88,348 | $453,759 | $1,310 |
| 2 | Hilo | 50,404 | 136 | $81,779 | $548,368 | $1,427 |
| 3 | Waianae | 12,918 | 142 | $81,733 | $574,227 | $1,277 |
| 4 | Kailua CDP (Hawaii County) | 21,818 | 143 | $88,211 | $662,522 | $1,754 |
| 5 | Nanakuli | 12,383 | 144 | $86,597 | $485,029 | $1,690 |
| 6 | Makaha | 10,066 | 144 | $64,970 | $391,120 | $1,868 |
| 7 | Waipio Acres | 5,332 | 153 | $94,861 | $748,389 | $2,003 |
| 8 | Waimalu | 13,061 | 154 | $89,232 | $593,430 | $1,931 |
| 9 | Waikoloa Village | 7,543 | 156 | $81,703 | $796,733 | $2,177 |
| 10 | Maili | 11,570 | 165 | $111,542 | $635,918 | $2,420 |
| 11 | Waihee-Waiehu | 10,988 | 165 | $126,735 | $771,321 | $2,191 |
| 12 | Wahiawa | 17,996 | 166 | $87,143 | $858,314 | $1,546 |
| 13 | Ewa Villages | 7,415 | 166 | $88,813 | $861,258 | $1,227 |
| 14 | Kapaa | 11,094 | 169 | $89,477 | $948,644 | $2,020 |
| 15 | Waipio | 10,870 | 169 | $109,877 | $744,022 | $2,219 |
| 16 | Kahului | 28,288 | 170 | $98,077 | $1,035,498 | $1,488 |
| 17 | Ewa Gentry | 26,563 | 170 | $135,684 | $810,036 | $2,580 |
| 18 | Wailuku | 16,926 | 170 | $102,942 | $924,156 | $1,762 |
| 19 | Waimanalo | 6,054 | 171 | $116,581 | $1,078,074 | $1,764 |
| 20 | Ewa Beach | 14,376 | 172 | $124,323 | $836,184 | $2,522 |
| 21 | Waikele | 7,528 | 172 | $120,525 | $699,549 | $2,634 |
| 22 | Waipahu | 40,482 | 173 | $103,895 | $868,669 | $1,658 |
| 23 | Schofield Barracks | 16,270 | 173 | $80,388 | $0 | $3,230 |
| 24 | Iroquois Point | 5,158 | 174 | $109,561 | $0 | $3,501 |
| 25 | Kapolei | 22,232 | 175 | $128,324 | $848,166 | $2,311 |
| 26 | Lihue | 7,901 | 175 | $92,850 | $864,447 | $1,956 |
| 27 | Makawao | 7,353 | 175 | $96,444 | $1,103,697 | $1,908 |
| 28 | Kihei | 21,567 | 177 | $87,772 | $1,013,506 | $2,045 |
| 29 | West Loch Estate | 5,544 | 178 | $122,422 | $848,850 | $2,660 |
| 30 | Kahaluu-Keauhou | 5,150 | 178 | $96,212 | $880,417 | $1,901 |
| 31 | Pukalani | 8,679 | 179 | $102,976 | $966,583 | $1,608 |
| 32 | Makakilo | 20,735 | 181 | $118,550 | $860,861 | $2,276 |
| 33 | Royal Kunia | 13,555 | 181 | $135,361 | $856,096 | $2,921 |
| 34 | Mililani Town | 27,668 | 183 | $127,363 | $917,147 | $2,384 |
| 35 | Napili-Honokowai | 7,308 | 184 | $105,565 | $872,476 | $2,220 |
| 36 | Wailua Homesteads | 5,431 | 185 | $89,717 | $936,504 | $1,990 |
| 37 | Hickam Housing | 9,425 | 188 | $121,667 | $0 | $3,501 |
| 38 | Ahuimanu | 8,452 | 188 | $135,438 | $903,944 | $2,635 |
| 39 | Pearl City | 44,547 | 189 | $118,112 | $944,249 | $2,316 |
| 40 | Lahaina | 10,162 | 189 | $88,889 | $981,024 | $1,997 |
| 41 | Ocean Pointe | 17,085 | 191 | $149,767 | $893,620 | $3,424 |
| 42 | Mililani Mauka | 21,278 | 192 | $138,942 | $980,878 | $2,350 |
| 43 | Halawa | 14,385 | 198 | $110,400 | $1,044,211 | $1,739 |
| 44 | Kaneohe | 37,355 | 201 | $125,613 | $1,091,198 | $2,269 |
| 45 | Haiku-Pauwela | 9,178 | 203 | $101,396 | $1,085,805 | $2,538 |
| 46 | Aiea | 9,087 | 207 | $140,308 | $838,396 | $2,844 |
| 47 | Laie | 5,699 | 209 | $125,202 | $1,292,971 | $2,339 |
| 48 | Kahaluu | 5,619 | 212 | $142,045 | $1,204,531 | $2,504 |
| 49 | Heeia | 5,144 | 213 | $176,250 | $1,191,427 | $3,501 |
| 50 | East Honolulu | 51,360 | 224 | $159,518 | $1,203,141 | $3,313 |
| 51 | Kula | 6,791 | 228 | $100,433 | $1,320,090 | $2,240 |
| 52 | Wailea | 6,352 | 236 | $90,000 | $1,523,582 | $2,554 |
Source: U.S. Census ACS 2020-2024, cost-of-living data. 52 places with more than 5,000 residents.
Summary
Hawaii Affordability Summary
This is an accurate list of the most affordable places to live in Hawaii for 2026, if you’re looking at the cost of living numbers in Hawaii.
The cheapest cities in Hawaii are Hawaiian Paradise Park, Hilo, Waianae, Kailua CDP (Hawaii County), Nanakuli, Makaha, Waipio Acres, Waimalu, Waikoloa Village, and Maili.
