Lihue, HI vs Waikapu, HI

Lihue is moderately more affordable than Waikapu, with a 10.6% lower cost of living index. Lihue scores 168 compared to 188 for Waikapu, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Waikapu can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Lihue is $1,989/month compared to $2,696/month in Waikapu — a 26% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Lihue has cheaper rent, Waikapu actually has lower median home values ($837,700 vs $843,900).

Median household income in Lihue is $77,420 compared to $121,618 in Waikapu (-36.3%). While Waikapu is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Lihue spend roughly 30.8% of their income on rent, more than the 26.6% in Waikapu. The Waikapu ratio exceeds the commonly recommended 30% threshold, which can put pressure on household budgets.