Waimalu, HI vs Waipahu, HI

Waimalu is moderately more affordable than Waipahu, with a 6.5% lower cost of living index. Waimalu scores 145 compared to 156 for Waipahu, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Waipahu can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Waimalu is $1,892/month compared to $1,585/month in Waipahu — a 19% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Waipahu has cheaper rent, Waimalu actually has lower median home values ($597,700 vs $835,400).

Median household income in Waimalu is $89,016 compared to $98,633 in Waipahu (-9.8%). While Waipahu is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Waimalu spend roughly 25.5% of their income on rent, more than the 19.3% in Waipahu.