Lawai, HI vs Waikele, HI

Lawai is moderately more affordable than Waikele, with a 7% lower cost of living index. Lawai scores 167 compared to 179 for Waikele, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Waikele can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Lawai is $1,917/month compared to $2,739/month in Waikele — a 30% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Lawai has cheaper rent, Waikele actually has lower median home values ($696,400 vs $853,700).

Median household income in Lawai is $104,826 compared to $111,971 in Waikele (-6.4%). The higher salaries in Waikele partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Lawai spend roughly 21.9% of their income on rent, less than the 29.4% in Waikele.