Key takeaway: Hawaiʻi Island is the cheapest place in the state for rent and homes, but has the highest owner property tax rate. Lānaʻi and Molokaʻi pay the most for electricity. Kauaʻi and Maui need the highest incomes. Every figure below links to its guide, where the sources are. Numbers checked October 30, 2026.
Housing
| Oʻahu | Maui | Hawaiʻi Island | Kauaʻi | Molokaʻi | Lānaʻi |
|---|
| 1BR rent, HUD benchmark | $1,951 | $2,030 | $1,615 | $1,777 (2026) | $2,030 (county) | $2,030 (county) |
| Typical 1BR apartment | $1,900 | $2,000 | $1,374 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Median single-family home, Sep 2026 | $1,110,000 | $1,150,000 (county) | $499,000 | $1,490,000 | — | — |
| Owner-occupied property tax per $1,000 | $3.50 | $1.65 | $5.75 | $2.59 | $1.65 | $1.65 |
| Home exemption | $120,000 | $300,000 | $50,000 | $220,000 | $300,000 | $300,000 |
Utilities and getting around
Income needed and what people earn
| Oʻahu | Maui | Hawaiʻi Island | Kauaʻi |
|---|
| Bare-bones budget, single adult (DBEDT) | $42,698 | $46,265 | $41,893 | $49,073 |
| MIT living wage, single adult | $64,134 | $68,816 | $62,047 | $66,922 |
| Median household income | $106,195 | $97,161 | $78,639 | $97,668 |
| Military cost-of-living index | 114 | 118 | 126 | 126 |
County figures. Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi are part of Maui County; Molokaʻi’s military index is 118.
The same everywhere