Koloa, HI vs Wailea, HI

The cost of living difference between Koloa, HI and Wailea, HI is dramatic. Koloa is 30.7% cheaper than Wailea, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Koloa has a cost index of 156 while Wailea sits at 225, making this one of the more striking comparisons on our site. Relocating between these cities would require a serious reassessment of budget and lifestyle expectations.

On the housing front, median rent in Koloa is $1,505/month compared to $2,485/month in Wailea — a 39% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Koloa is more affordable at $873,900 median vs $1,363,700.

Median household income in Koloa is $76,316 compared to $89,375 in Wailea (-14.6%). Wailea does offer higher incomes, but the salary premium barely offsets the higher cost of living, leaving residents with a tighter budget. Looking at affordability, residents of Koloa spend roughly 23.7% of their income on rent, less than the 33.4% in Wailea. The Koloa ratio exceeds the commonly recommended 30% threshold, which can put pressure on household budgets.