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Cost & Benefits

Most affordable towns in Hawaii, 2026

Kaiminani is the most affordable ranked town in Hawaii. Rent, the regional price level, taxes, and electricity are 22.5% each. Gasoline is 10%. A lower score is more affordable.

Summary

55
Towns ranked in Hawaii.
Kaiminani
Number 1 in Hawaii. Rent is 13.0% of income. National rank 4791.
23.7%
Median rent share among ranked towns in Hawaii.
0
Ranked Hawaii towns in the national top 100.
Wailea
Least affordable ranked town in Hawaii. Rent is 34.1% of income. National rank 6449.

Gasoline

$5.167

per gallon. EIA does not publish a Hawaii price. This is the West Coast (PADD 5) Except California price dated September 15, 2026. The weekly file does not include that series. At 12,000 miles a year and 25 mpg, that is $2,480.16 a year for every ranked town in Hawaii.

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Benefits and taxes in Hawaii

Top 25

  1. #1 in Hawaii · National #4791

    Kaiminani

    Rent share 13.0% · Price level 110.0 · Score 0.583

    Median rent is $1,202 a month and median income is $110,560, so rent is 13.0% of income, under the 23.7% median for ranked towns in Hawaii. The Hawaii state price level is 110.0 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 48.00 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $5.167 a gallon (West Coast (PADD 5) Except California). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  2. #2 in Hawaii · National #5193

    Ewa Villages

    Rent share 16.6% · Price level 111.0 · Score 0.624

    Median rent is $1,227 a month and median income is $88,813, so rent is 16.6% of income, under the 23.7% median for ranked towns in Hawaii. The Urban Honolulu, HI metro price level is 111.0 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 48.00 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $5.167 a gallon (West Coast (PADD 5) Except California). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  3. #3 in Hawaii · National #5209

    Hawaiian Paradise Park

    Rent share 17.8% · Price level 110.0 · Score 0.625

    Median rent is $1,310 a month and median income is $88,348, so rent is 17.8% of income, under the 23.7% median for ranked towns in Hawaii. The Hawaii state price level is 110.0 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 48.00 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $5.167 a gallon (West Coast (PADD 5) Except California). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is tax burden and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  4. #4 in Hawaii · National #5334

    Waianae

    Rent share 18.7% · Price level 111.0 · Score 0.643

    Median rent is $1,277 a month and median income is $81,733, so rent is 18.7% of income, under the 23.7% median for ranked towns in Hawaii. The Urban Honolulu, HI metro price level is 111.0 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 48.00 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $5.167 a gallon (West Coast (PADD 5) Except California). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is tax burden and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  5. #5 in Hawaii · National #5374

    Kahului

    Rent share 18.2% · Price level 109.4 · Score 0.648

    Median rent is $1,488 a month and median income is $98,077, so rent is 18.2% of income, under the 23.7% median for ranked towns in Hawaii. The Kahului-Wailuku, HI metro price level is 109.4 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 48.00 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $5.167 a gallon (West Coast (PADD 5) Except California). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  6. #6 in Hawaii · National #5375

    Waimanalo

    Rent share 18.2% · Price level 111.0 · Score 0.648

    Median rent is $1,764 a month and median income is $116,581, so rent is 18.2% of income, under the 23.7% median for ranked towns in Hawaii. The Urban Honolulu, HI metro price level is 111.0 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 48.00 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $5.167 a gallon (West Coast (PADD 5) Except California). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  7. #7 in Hawaii · National #5456

    Pukalani

    Rent share 18.7% · Price level 109.4 · Score 0.663

    Median rent is $1,608 a month and median income is $102,976, so rent is 18.7% of income, under the 23.7% median for ranked towns in Hawaii. The Kahului-Wailuku, HI metro price level is 109.4 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 48.00 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $5.167 a gallon (West Coast (PADD 5) Except California). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  8. #8 in Hawaii · National #5502

    Waipahu

    Rent share 19.2% · Price level 111.0 · Score 0.670

    Median rent is $1,658 a month and median income is $103,895, so rent is 19.2% of income, under the 23.7% median for ranked towns in Hawaii. The Urban Honolulu, HI metro price level is 111.0 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 48.00 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $5.167 a gallon (West Coast (PADD 5) Except California). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is tax burden and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  9. #9 in Hawaii · National #5522

    Halawa

    Rent share 18.9% · Price level 111.0 · Score 0.673

    Median rent is $1,739 a month and median income is $110,400, so rent is 18.9% of income, under the 23.7% median for ranked towns in Hawaii. The Urban Honolulu, HI metro price level is 111.0 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 48.00 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $5.167 a gallon (West Coast (PADD 5) Except California). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  10. #10 in Hawaii · National #5561

    Hilo

    Rent share 20.9% · Price level 110.0 · Score 0.678

    Median rent is $1,427 a month and median income is $81,779, so rent is 20.9% of income, under the 23.7% median for ranked towns in Hawaii. The Hawaii state price level is 110.0 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 48.00 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $5.167 a gallon (West Coast (PADD 5) Except California). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is tax burden and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  11. #11 in Hawaii · National #5624

    East Kapolei

    Rent share 20.5% · Price level 111.0 · Score 0.688

    Median rent is $2,031 a month and median income is $118,904, so rent is 20.5% of income, under the 23.7% median for ranked towns in Hawaii. The Urban Honolulu, HI metro price level is 111.0 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 48.00 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $5.167 a gallon (West Coast (PADD 5) Except California). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is tax burden and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  12. #12 in Hawaii · National #5634

    Mililani Mauka

    Rent share 20.3% · Price level 111.0 · Score 0.689

    Median rent is $2,350 a month and median income is $138,942, so rent is 20.3% of income, under the 23.7% median for ranked towns in Hawaii. The Urban Honolulu, HI metro price level is 111.0 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 48.00 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $5.167 a gallon (West Coast (PADD 5) Except California). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is tax burden and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  13. #13 in Hawaii · National #5636

    Waihee-Waiehu

    Rent share 20.7% · Price level 109.4 · Score 0.689

    Median rent is $2,191 a month and median income is $126,735, so rent is 20.7% of income, under the 23.7% median for ranked towns in Hawaii. The Kahului-Wailuku, HI metro price level is 109.4 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 48.00 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $5.167 a gallon (West Coast (PADD 5) Except California). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is tax burden and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  14. #14 in Hawaii · National #5641

    Wailuku

    Rent share 20.5% · Price level 109.4 · Score 0.690

    Median rent is $1,762 a month and median income is $102,942, so rent is 20.5% of income, under the 23.7% median for ranked towns in Hawaii. The Kahului-Wailuku, HI metro price level is 109.4 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 48.00 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $5.167 a gallon (West Coast (PADD 5) Except California). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is tax burden and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  15. #15 in Hawaii · National #5725

    Wahiawa

    Rent share 21.3% · Price level 111.0 · Score 0.705

    Median rent is $1,546 a month and median income is $87,143, so rent is 21.3% of income, under the 23.7% median for ranked towns in Hawaii. The Urban Honolulu, HI metro price level is 111.0 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 48.00 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $5.167 a gallon (West Coast (PADD 5) Except California). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is tax burden and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  16. #16 in Hawaii · National #5744

    Kapolei

    Rent share 21.6% · Price level 111.0 · Score 0.708

    Median rent is $2,311 a month and median income is $128,324, so rent is 21.6% of income, under the 23.7% median for ranked towns in Hawaii. The Urban Honolulu, HI metro price level is 111.0 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 48.00 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $5.167 a gallon (West Coast (PADD 5) Except California). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is tax burden and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  17. #17 in Hawaii · National #5755

    Kahaluu

    Rent share 21.2% · Price level 111.0 · Score 0.711

    Median rent is $2,504 a month and median income is $142,045, so rent is 21.2% of income, under the 23.7% median for ranked towns in Hawaii. The Urban Honolulu, HI metro price level is 111.0 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 48.00 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $5.167 a gallon (West Coast (PADD 5) Except California). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is tax burden and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  18. #18 in Hawaii · National #5777

    Waimea

    Rent share 22.4% · Price level 110.0 · Score 0.715

    Median rent is $1,867 a month and median income is $100,198, so rent is 22.4% of income, under the 23.7% median for ranked towns in Hawaii. The Hawaii state price level is 110.0 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 48.00 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $5.167 a gallon (West Coast (PADD 5) Except California). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is tax burden and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  19. #19 in Hawaii · National #5795

    Kaneohe

    Rent share 21.7% · Price level 111.0 · Score 0.717

    Median rent is $2,269 a month and median income is $125,613, so rent is 21.7% of income, under the 23.7% median for ranked towns in Hawaii. The Urban Honolulu, HI metro price level is 111.0 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 48.00 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $5.167 a gallon (West Coast (PADD 5) Except California). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is tax burden and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  20. #20 in Hawaii · National #5841

    Nanakuli

    Rent share 23.4% · Price level 111.0 · Score 0.724

    Median rent is $1,690 a month and median income is $86,597, so rent is 23.4% of income, under the 23.7% median for ranked towns in Hawaii. The Urban Honolulu, HI metro price level is 111.0 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 48.00 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $5.167 a gallon (West Coast (PADD 5) Except California). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is tax burden and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  21. #21 in Hawaii · National #5860

    Mililani Town

    Rent share 22.5% · Price level 111.0 · Score 0.727

    Median rent is $2,384 a month and median income is $127,363, so rent is 22.5% of income, under the 23.7% median for ranked towns in Hawaii. The Urban Honolulu, HI metro price level is 111.0 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 48.00 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $5.167 a gallon (West Coast (PADD 5) Except California). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is tax burden and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  22. #22 in Hawaii · National #5861

    Laie

    Rent share 22.4% · Price level 111.0 · Score 0.727

    Median rent is $2,339 a month and median income is $125,202, so rent is 22.4% of income, under the 23.7% median for ranked towns in Hawaii. The Urban Honolulu, HI metro price level is 111.0 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 48.00 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $5.167 a gallon (West Coast (PADD 5) Except California). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is tax burden and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  23. #23 in Hawaii · National #5872

    Ewa Gentry

    Rent share 22.8% · Price level 111.0 · Score 0.728

    Median rent is $2,580 a month and median income is $135,684, so rent is 22.8% of income, under the 23.7% median for ranked towns in Hawaii. The Urban Honolulu, HI metro price level is 111.0 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 48.00 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $5.167 a gallon (West Coast (PADD 5) Except California). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is tax burden and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  24. #24 in Hawaii · National #5906

    Makakilo

    Rent share 23.0% · Price level 111.0 · Score 0.735

    Median rent is $2,276 a month and median income is $118,550, so rent is 23.0% of income, under the 23.7% median for ranked towns in Hawaii. The Urban Honolulu, HI metro price level is 111.0 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 48.00 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $5.167 a gallon (West Coast (PADD 5) Except California). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is tax burden and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  25. #25 in Hawaii · National #5907

    Kailua

    Rent share 23.9% · Price level 110.0 · Score 0.735

    Median rent is $1,754 a month and median income is $88,211, so rent is 23.9% of income, over the 23.7% median for ranked towns in Hawaii. The Hawaii state price level is 110.0 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 48.00 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $5.167 a gallon (West Coast (PADD 5) Except California). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is tax burden and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

Least affordable 10

  1. #55 in Hawaii · National #6449

    Wailea

    Rent share 34.1% · Price level 109.4 · Score 0.832

    Median rent is $2,554 a month and median income is $90,000, so rent is 34.1% of income, over the 23.7% median for ranked towns in Hawaii. The Kahului-Wailuku, HI metro price level is 109.4 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 48.00 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $5.167 a gallon (West Coast (PADD 5) Except California). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is tax burden and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  2. #54 in Hawaii · National #6281

    Haiku-Pauwela

    Rent share 30.0% · Price level 109.4 · Score 0.800

    Median rent is $2,538 a month and median income is $101,396, so rent is 30.0% of income, over the 23.7% median for ranked towns in Hawaii. The Kahului-Wailuku, HI metro price level is 109.4 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 48.00 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $5.167 a gallon (West Coast (PADD 5) Except California). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is tax burden and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  3. #53 in Hawaii · National #6241

    Waikoloa Village

    Rent share 32.0% · Price level 110.0 · Score 0.790

    Median rent is $2,177 a month and median income is $81,703, so rent is 32.0% of income, over the 23.7% median for ranked towns in Hawaii. The Hawaii state price level is 110.0 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 48.00 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $5.167 a gallon (West Coast (PADD 5) Except California). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is tax burden and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  4. #52 in Hawaii · National #6215

    Kula

    Rent share 26.8% · Price level 109.4 · Score 0.786

    Median rent is $2,240 a month and median income is $100,433, so rent is 26.8% of income, over the 23.7% median for ranked towns in Hawaii. The Kahului-Wailuku, HI metro price level is 109.4 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 48.00 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $5.167 a gallon (West Coast (PADD 5) Except California). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is tax burden and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  5. #51 in Hawaii · National #6204

    Kihei

    Rent share 28.0% · Price level 109.4 · Score 0.784

    Median rent is $2,045 a month and median income is $87,772, so rent is 28.0% of income, over the 23.7% median for ranked towns in Hawaii. The Kahului-Wailuku, HI metro price level is 109.4 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 48.00 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $5.167 a gallon (West Coast (PADD 5) Except California). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is tax burden and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  6. #50 in Hawaii · National #6170

    Wailua Homesteads

    Rent share 26.6% · Price level 110.0 · Score 0.779

    Median rent is $1,990 a month and median income is $89,717, so rent is 26.6% of income, over the 23.7% median for ranked towns in Hawaii. The Hawaii state price level is 110.0 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 48.00 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $5.167 a gallon (West Coast (PADD 5) Except California). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is tax burden and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  7. #49 in Hawaii · National #6161

    Ocean Pointe

    Rent share 27.4% · Price level 111.0 · Score 0.778

    Median rent is $3,424 a month and median income is $149,767, so rent is 27.4% of income, over the 23.7% median for ranked towns in Hawaii. The Urban Honolulu, HI metro price level is 111.0 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 48.00 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $5.167 a gallon (West Coast (PADD 5) Except California). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is tax burden and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  8. #48 in Hawaii · National #6159

    Kapaa

    Rent share 27.1% · Price level 110.0 · Score 0.777

    Median rent is $2,020 a month and median income is $89,477, so rent is 27.1% of income, over the 23.7% median for ranked towns in Hawaii. The Hawaii state price level is 110.0 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 48.00 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $5.167 a gallon (West Coast (PADD 5) Except California). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is tax burden and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  9. #47 in Hawaii · National #6154

    Lahaina

    Rent share 27.0% · Price level 109.4 · Score 0.776

    Median rent is $1,997 a month and median income is $88,889, so rent is 27.0% of income, over the 23.7% median for ranked towns in Hawaii. The Kahului-Wailuku, HI metro price level is 109.4 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 48.00 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $5.167 a gallon (West Coast (PADD 5) Except California). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is tax burden and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  10. #46 in Hawaii · National #6153

    Kaneohe Base

    Rent share 58.9% · Price level 111.0 · Score 0.776

    Median rent is $3,410 a month and median income is $69,418, so rent is 58.9% of income, over the 23.7% median for ranked towns in Hawaii. The Urban Honolulu, HI metro price level is 111.0 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 48.00 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $5.167 a gallon (West Coast (PADD 5) Except California). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is tax burden and its heaviest mark is rent share.

The formula

A lower score is more affordable. Rent share, the regional price level, taxes, and electricity each count 22.5%. Gasoline counts 10%. Those weights are our choice. Gasoline stays at 10% because the miles figure is one national standard, not a measured town commute. This is not a government standard.

A percentile is the share of ranked towns with a strictly lower number, divided by the number of ranked towns minus one. The lowest number scores 0. Tied numbers share a percentile.

  1. Rent share = (median monthly rent × 12) / median household income. Both figures are the Census 2020–2024 medians for that place.
  2. RPP-adjusted cost is the BEA 2024 all-items regional price parity. A basket priced at 100 for the U.S. average costs this many dollars in the town's area. We use the metro index when the county is in a metro BEA publishes. Otherwise we use the state index and say so. This index includes housing, so housing also shows up in the rent share.
  3. Tax burden is the average of three percentiles. Income-tax share is state income tax plus the stored 2023 local AGI add-on, divided by the town's median household income, on a joint return. Property share is the state's median effective property-tax rate times the town's median home value, divided by income. Sales rate is the combined state and average local sales-tax rate. We do not turn the sales rate into dollars, because that would require a shopping basket we do not have.
  4. Electricity is the state residential price in cents per kilowatt-hour. Every town in a state shares it. We do not guess how many kilowatt-hours a home uses.
  5. Gasoline is the EIA retail price for all grades and all formulations, in dollars per gallon. Where EIA publishes a state series, we use that state. Every other state uses the PADD region EIA assigns to it. Census does not publish commuting miles for these towns, so annual gas spend is 12,000 miles a year divided by 25 miles per gallon, times the price. That is 480 gallons, the same for every town. Those miles are our standard, not an ACS figure and not a government mileage rule. Because the gallons do not change, the gas percentile is the percentile of the price.

    Weekly prices are for the week of October 12, 2026, from the EIA workbook released October 14, 2026. File: https://www.eia.gov/petroleum/gasdiesel/xls/pswrgvwall.xls. Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, Nevada, and Oregon use West Coast (PADD 5) Except California. That series is not in the weekly workbook, so those five use the monthly price dated September 15, 2026. File: https://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/pet_pri_gnd_a_epm0_pte_dpgal_m.htm.

    • State series, week of October 12, 2026: California, Colorado, Florida, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Texas, Washington.
    • Central Atlantic (PADD 1B), week of October 12, 2026: Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania.
    • Gulf Coast (PADD 3), week of October 12, 2026: Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico.
    • Lower Atlantic (PADD 1C), week of October 12, 2026: Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia.
    • Midwest (PADD 2), week of October 12, 2026: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Wisconsin.
    • New England (PADD 1A), week of October 12, 2026: Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont.
    • Rocky Mountain (PADD 4), week of October 12, 2026: Idaho, Montana, Utah, Wyoming.
    • West Coast (PADD 5) Except California, September 15, 2026: Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon.

Score = 0.225 × rent percentile + 0.225 × price-level percentile + 0.225 × tax score + 0.225 × electricity percentile + 0.10 × gasoline percentile. Rank 1 is the lowest score. If scores tie, the lower rent share wins, then the lower price level, then the place slug in A-to-Z order.

Questions

What is the most affordable town in Hawaii in this index?

Kaiminani is number 1 of 55 ranked towns in Hawaii. Median rent is 13.0% of median income. Its national rank is 4791.

How many towns in Hawaii were ranked?

55 towns in Hawaii have at least 5,000 people and published Census rent, income, and home value. Places missing one of those figures are left out.

Does this ranking approve benefits in Hawaii?

No. Cost & Benefits does not approve or deny benefits. The score is a cost comparison only.