Punaluu, HI vs Wailua, HI

Punaluu, HI and Wailua, HI have a very similar cost of living, with only a 2.4% difference in their overall index. Punaluu scores 169 while Wailua scores 165 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 Punaluu is $2,030/month compared to $2,272/month in Wailua — a 11% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Punaluu has cheaper rent, Wailua actually has lower median home values ($697,300 vs $828,700).

Median household income in Punaluu is $88,611 compared to $68,548 in Wailua (+29.3%). While Punaluu is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Punaluu spend roughly 27.5% of their income on rent, less than the 39.8% in Wailua. The Punaluu ratio exceeds the commonly recommended 30% threshold, which can put pressure on household budgets.