Holualoa, HI vs Lihue, HI

Holualoa, HI and Lihue, HI have a very similar cost of living, with only a 3.1% difference in their overall index. Holualoa scores 173 while Lihue scores 168 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Holualoa is $1,588/month compared to $1,989/month in Lihue — a 20% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Holualoa has cheaper rent, Lihue actually has lower median home values ($843,900 vs $1,056,500).

Median household income in Holualoa is $109,444 compared to $77,420 in Lihue (+41.4%). While Holualoa is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Holualoa spend roughly 17.4% of their income on rent, less than the 30.8% in Lihue. The Holualoa ratio exceeds the commonly recommended 30% threshold, which can put pressure on household budgets.