Cost of living in Hawaii
Prices in Hawaii are 10.0% above the US average (2nd highest of 51). A single filer on $75,000 pays $3,896 in state income tax. State sales tax: 4%.
Price levels in Hawaii
| BEA RPP 2024 | Hawaii | vs US (100) |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 110.0 | +10.0% |
| Goods | 111.6 | +11.6% |
| Housing (rents) | 125.3 | +25.3% |
| Utilities | 190.2 | +90.2% |
| Other services | 102.9 | +2.9% |
Metros in Hawaii
Metros whose principal city is in Hawaii. “Left over” = a single renter earning $60,000, after 2026 taxes (including the principal city’s local tax) and modeled costs.
| Metro | Population | Price level | 2-BR FMR | Infant care / wk* | Left over / mo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Urban Honolulu, HI | 988,703 | 111.0 | $2,542 | $366 | $183 |
| Kahului, HI | 160,674 | 109.4 | $2,656 | $288 | $104 |
*Center-based, DOL 2022 price for the metro’s principal county; a year in brackets marks an older latest-available price. “No data”: DOL publishes no price for that county, and childcare is left out of its budgets.
Taxes in Hawaii (2026)
| Annual tax | Single, $50,000 | Single, $75,000 | Single, $120,000 | Couple, 2 kids, $120,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal income tax | $3,820 | $7,670 | $17,570 | $5,640 |
| Social Security + Medicare | $3,825 | $5,738 | $9,180 | $9,180 |
| Hawaii income tax | $2,025 | $3,896 | $7,316 | $5,339 |
| Hawaii payroll taxes | $250 | $375 | $390 | $600 |
| Take-home pay / month | $3,340 | $4,777 | $7,129 | $8,270 |
Annual liability, standard deduction, Child Tax Credit; local income taxes are not included in this state-level table (see each metro). On $75,000, Hawaii’s income and payroll taxes cost $4,271 a year more than in a state without them (federal taxes are the same: $13,408).
Childcare prices across Hawaii
| Age band | Center, median county / wk (2022) | Center / yr today* | Home-based / wk (2022) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infant (under 2) | $306 | $19,436 | $173 |
| Toddler (2) | $190 | $12,101 | $167 |
| Preschool (3–4) | $190 | $12,101 | $167 |
| School-age (5–12) | $44 | $2,787 | — |
Center-based infant care ranges from $202 a week in Hawaii County to $366 in Honolulu County (2022 prices).
DOL National Database of Childcare Prices, 2022; median across 5 counties with 2022 data. *52 weeks × 1.2224 BLS CPI for day care and preschool, 2022 average to 2026-08. Look up a county.
Property taxes by county
Effective rate = Census median real estate taxes ÷ median home value (ACS 2020-2024), metro-area counties.
| County | Median value | Median tax | Effective rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honolulu County | $897,500 | $2,553 | 0.28% |
| Maui County | $904,700 | $1,466 | 0.16% |
Energy and fuel
EIA: electricity 2025, natural gas 2024, gasoline week ending 2026-10-05.
Who moves to and from Hawaii
Census state-to-state migration flows (2024 ACS 1-year; people 1 year and over, ± margin of error at 90%). Totals cover moves between states and DC only: 53,093 in, 51,804 out (net +1,289).
- California10,516 ±2,445
- Texas5,174 ±2,026
- Washington4,329 ±1,535
- Florida4,002 ±1,825
- Virginia3,143 ±1,389
- North Carolina2,289 ±1,348
- Georgia1,810 ±1,496
- Pennsylvania1,741 ±1,380
- California9,923 ±2,644
- Texas4,237 ±2,321
- Florida3,966 ±2,243
- Virginia3,917 ±2,352
- Utah2,734 ±2,042
- Washington2,534 ±953
- Nevada2,501 ±1,347
- New York2,299 ±1,352
Frequently asked questions
Is Hawaii expensive to live in?+
BEA’s Regional Price Parities put Hawaii’s overall price level at 110.0 in 2024 (US = 100), the 2nd highest of 51 states and DC. Housing is 125.3 and goods 111.6.
Does Hawaii have a state income tax?+
Yes. A single filer earning $75,000 owes about $3,896 in Hawaii income tax under 2026 law (5.2% of pay), plus $375 in state payroll taxes.
What is the sales tax in Hawaii?+
The state rate is 4% (as of 2026-10-13); groceries are taxed at 4%. Local sales taxes can add to this.
What is the most affordable metro in Hawaii?+
For a single renter earning $60,000, Urban Honolulu, HI leaves the most each month after taxes and modeled costs ($183), and Kahului, HI the least ($104).