Cost of Living in Kahului, HI
Kahului-Wailuku, HI — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Kahului, HI to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
Prices in Kahului, HI vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 109.4 | +9.4% |
| Housing | 119.2 | +19.2% |
| Goods | 111.6 | +11.6% |
| Utilities | 190.6 | +90.6% |
| Other services | 102.9 | +2.9% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Kahului, HI
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,896 | $75,840/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $2,000 | $80,000/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $2,624 | $104,960/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $3,398 | $135,920/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $4,236 | $169,440/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Take-home pay in Kahului, HI
- Federal income tax$4,737
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,574
- Medicare (1.45%)$836
- Hawaii income tax$2,850
- Take-home pay$45,643
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 7.60% state
Highest-paying jobs in Kahului, HI
*In U.S.-average dollars after adjusting for local prices.
Frequently asked questions
Is Kahului, HI expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Kahului-Wailuku, HI metro area are 109.4% of the U.S. average, with housing at 119.2%. It is the #13 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Kahului, HI?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $65,636 in Kahului, HI (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $57,640.
How much is rent in Kahului, HI?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Kahului, HI are $1,896 for a studio, $2,000 for one bedroom, $2,624 for two bedrooms and $3,398 for three bedrooms, including utilities.
All salaries in Kahului, HI
Management Occupations
- General and Operations Manager — $108,010
Business and Financial Operations Occupations
- Accountant and Auditor — $78,630
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $76,750
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education — $71,830
- Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary — $40,280
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
- Registered Nurse — $144,350
Healthcare Support Occupations
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $39,780
Protective Service Occupations
- Security Guard — $48,690
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- Bartender — $86,280
- Waiter and Waitress — $82,550
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $61,230
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $56,600
- Cooks, Restaurant — $49,560
- Food Preparation Worker — $46,680
- Dishwasher — $45,930
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $45,240
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $37,840
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations
- Maid and Housekeeping Cleaner — $53,030
- Landscaping and Groundskeeping Worker — $48,570
- Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners — $38,810
Personal Care and Service Occupations
- Amusement and Recreation Attendant — $49,020
Sales and Related Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Retail Sales Workers — $59,420
- Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel — $53,540
- Retail Salesperson — $39,630
- Cashier — $39,010
Office and Administrative Support Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Office and Administrative Support Workers — $68,630
- Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks — $60,360
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks — $54,900
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive — $54,820
- Customer Service Representative — $49,750
- Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agent and Travel Clerk — $46,520
- Office Clerks, General — $45,740
- Receptionist and Information Clerk — $43,710
Construction and Extraction Occupations
- Carpenter — $82,110
- Construction Laborer — $79,760
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations
- Maintenance and Repair Workers, General — $63,980
- Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic — $57,180
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $63,420
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $47,490
- Stocker and Order Filler — $42,910