{"id":18155,"date":"2023-05-02T04:33:25","date_gmt":"2023-05-02T14:33:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.livinginhawaii.com\/?p=18155"},"modified":"2025-07-07T08:10:46","modified_gmt":"2025-07-07T18:10:46","slug":"cost-of-living-in-hawaii","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.livinginhawaii.com\/hawaii\/moving-to-hawaii\/cost-of-living-in-hawaii\/","title":{"rendered":"Breaking down the costs to live in Hawaii"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n

Why is Hawaii’s cost of living so high?<\/h3>\r\n

There are the basic reasons why the cost of living in Hawaii so high when compared to other states:<\/p>\r\n

    \r\n
  1. High cost of land.<\/li>\r\n
  2. Highest energy costs in the nation.<\/li>\r\n
  3. High taxation.\u00a0<\/li>\r\n
  4. High labor costs.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n

    All of this adds up to making Hawaii probably the most expensive place to live in the country.<\/p>\r\n

    Why is Housing So Expensive In Hawaii?<\/h3>\r\n
      \r\n
    1. Low supply and high demand.<\/li>\r\n
    2. Restrictive development rules limit supply.\u00a0<\/li>\r\n
    3. New Developments are politically unpopular.<\/li>\r\n
    4. Hawaii has some of the most desirable real estate in the country.\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n

      Hawaii put the breaks on new development back in the 70s and ever since, prices have been consistently rising at a high rate.\u00a0 What makes matters worse is that to this day, though people want more affordable housing, they are nearly universally opposed to new development which keeps supply low and therefore prices stay high.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n

      Average Cost of Housing Rentals in Honolulu – 2023<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
      Type<\/th>Sq Ft<\/th>Avg Rent<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
      Studio<\/td>300<\/td>$1,032<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      1 Bedroom<\/td>450<\/td>$1,548<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      2 Bedroom<\/td>900<\/td>$3,096<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      Home<\/td>1400<\/td>$4,816<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\r\n

      Hawaii House and Condo Median and Average Sale Prices – 2023<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
      Island<\/th>Type<\/th>Median<\/th>Average<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
      Oahu<\/td>Condo<\/td>$492,000<\/td>$631,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      Maui<\/td>Condo<\/td>$680,000<\/td>$1,052,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      Kauai<\/td>Condo<\/td>$764,000<\/td>$924,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      Big Island<\/td>Condo<\/td>$635,000<\/td>$927,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      Oahu<\/td>Home<\/td>$986,000<\/td>$1,141,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      Maui<\/td>Home<\/td>$1,175,000<\/td>$2,297,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      Kauai<\/td>Home<\/td>$809,000<\/td>$1,204,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      Big Island<\/td>Home<\/td>$520,000<\/td>$921,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\r\n

      Cost of Groceries in Hawaii – 2023<\/h3>\r\n

      For most folks living in the US mainland, grocery shopping will be a shocking experience.\u00a0 Put just a few items in your basket and watch the tab hit to $100.\u00a0 Costco shopping will easily top $300.\u00a0 Here’s a sampling of what things cost.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
      Item<\/th>Average Cost<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
      Milk (regular), (1 gal)<\/td>$7.71<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      Loaf of Fresh White Bread (500g)<\/td>$6.37<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      Eggs (regular) (12)<\/td>$6.89<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      Local Cheese (1 lb)<\/td>$7.57<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      Water (1.5 liter bottle)<\/td>$2.53<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range)<\/td>$17.50<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      Domestic Beer (16 oz bottle)<\/td>$3.25<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      Imported Beer (12 oz bottle)<\/td>$3.36<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro)<\/td>$11.98<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      Chicken Fillets (1 lb)<\/td>$8.45<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      Apples (1 lb)<\/td>$3.49<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      Oranges (1 lb)<\/td>$3.06<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      Potato (1 lb)<\/td>$2.74<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      Lettuce (1 head)<\/td>$3.89<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      Rice (white), (1 lb)<\/td>$3.20<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      Tomato (1 lb)<\/td>$3.73<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      Banana (1 lb)<\/td>$2.30<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      Onion (1 lb)<\/td>$2.36<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)<\/td>$10.61<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)<\/td>$10.65<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\r\n

      Should you move to Hawaii? Find out and take the quiz.<\/h2>\r\n