Kahului, HI vs Waimalu, HI

Kahului, HI and Waimalu, HI have a very similar cost of living, with only a 3.5% difference in their overall index. Kahului scores 151 while Waimalu scores 145 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 Kahului is $1,473/month compared to $1,892/month in Waimalu — a 22% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Kahului has cheaper rent, Waimalu actually has lower median home values ($597,700 vs $833,200).

Median household income in Kahului is $92,062 compared to $89,016 in Waimalu (+3.4%). The higher salaries in Kahului partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Kahului spend roughly 19.2% of their income on rent, less than the 25.5% in Waimalu.