Cost of Living in Kailua-Kona, HI
Updated November 2026 · Hawaii County · Hilo-Kailua, HI micropolitan area · population 21,818
Prices in Kailua-Kona are 7.5% above the US average (local index 107.5; the BEA index for nonmetropolitan Hawaii is 106.4), with utilities the biggest cost driver at 203.4; a single adult's modelled budget is about $3,437 a month and the median rent is $1,754.
Prices by category
CostLiving local estimate. 100 = US average; 110 means prices are 10% higher. Housing reflects Kailua-Kona's own median rent compared with the area's average rent; goods, utilities and other services are BEA's official price parities for nonmetropolitan Hawaii, unchanged.
Kailua-Kona price index by category, US average = 100: All items 107.5, Housing (rents) 109.9, Goods 111.6, Utilities 203.4, Other services 102.9
More expensive than 68% of the cities we cover.
| BEA index | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 108.0 | 104.9 | 107.6 | 105.2 | 104.7 | 106.4 |
Monthly budget by household type
1 adult · 1-bedroom · modelled estimate for Kailua-Kona, HI
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $1,412 | $16,944 | 41% |
| Utilities | $479 | $5,748 | 14% |
| Food at home | $315 | $3,780 | 9% |
| Transportation | $687 | $8,244 | 20% |
| Health care | $362 | $4,344 | 11% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $182 | $2,184 | 5% |
| Total | $3,437 | $41,244 | 100% |
2 adults · 2-bedroom · modelled estimate for Kailua-Kona, HI
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $1,610 | $19,320 | 30% |
| Utilities | $767 | $9,204 | 14% |
| Food at home | $581 | $6,972 | 11% |
| Transportation | $1,359 | $16,308 | 25% |
| Health care | $670 | $8,040 | 13% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $360 | $4,320 | 7% |
| Total | $5,347 | $64,164 | 100% |
2 adults + 2 children · 3-bedroom · modelled estimate for Kailua-Kona, HI
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $1,811 | $21,732 | 28% |
| Utilities | $933 | $11,196 | 14% |
| Food at home | $829 | $9,948 | 13% |
| Transportation | $1,810 | $21,720 | 28% |
| Health care | $625 | $7,500 | 10% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $465 | $5,580 | 7% |
| Total | $6,473 | $77,676 | 100% |
Modelled estimate of basic costs, excluding taxes, child care and savings. Housing is rent excluding tenant-paid utilities (counted under utilities). See how the budget is calculated.
Housing costs in Kailua-Kona
Rent by number of bedrooms
| Size | Median rent |
|---|---|
| Studio | $1,549 modelled from city median rent |
| 1 bedroom | $1,533 modelled from city median rent |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,747 modelled from city median rent |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,966 modelled from city median rent |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,429 modelled from city median rent |
Median rent: Census ACS 2020-2024 median gross rent by bedrooms (rent plus tenant-paid utilities, all renters).
Rent, home values and affordability
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,754 |
| Median contract rent (excl. utilities) | $1,616 |
| Median home value | $667,400 |
| Owner costs with a mortgage | $2,647/mo |
| Median household income | $88,211 |
| Rent as % of renter income Moderate | 27.4% |
| Home value ÷ household income Very expensive | 7.6× |
Census ACS 5-year 2020-2024.
Electricity and gas prices
Residential electricity in Hawaii
47.18¢ per kWh, August 2026
12-month change: +22.5% (from 38.53¢) · US 18.16¢
Average household uses 514 kWh a month in Hawaii ≈ $228/month. Source: EIA-861M (statewide average).
Regular gasoline regional figure: West Coast excl. California (PADD 5)
$4.77 per gallon, week of 2026-11-02
12-month change: +25.9% (from $3.79) · US $4.15
EIA weekly retail price survey; Hawaii is covered by the West Coast excl. California (PADD 5) average.
Inflation in the West
Consumer prices in the West Census region rose +3.4% in the 12 months to September 2026 (US +3.7%). Nationally, food at home changed +1.8%, shelter +3.2% and energy +20.4%. Source: BLS CPI-U, not seasonally adjusted. CPI is published for regions and large metro areas, so the regional figure is shown.
Salary equivalent
Because prices in Kailua-Kona are 7.5% above the US average, $60,000 here has the buying power of about $55,800 in an average-priced US area.
Formula: US-equivalent = salary × 100 ÷ 107.5. Based on the local cost index (CostLiving estimate from BEA RPP and Census rents); taxes not included.
Nearby cities
| City | Distance | Index | Budget (single) | Median rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hilo, HI | 60 mi | 103.8 | $2,804 | $1,427 |
Cities with a similar cost of living
| City | Index | Budget (single) | Median rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Pleasant, SC | 107.6 | $3,380 | $2,159 |
| Beaverton, OR | 107.5 | $3,222 | $1,826 |
| Newark, NJ | 107.5 | $2,722 | $1,392 |
| Scottsdale, AZ | 107.5 | $3,406 | $2,013 |
| Mansfield, TX | 107.5 | $3,175 | $1,954 |
| Little Elm, TX | 107.4 | $3,101 | $1,953 |
Compare Kailua-Kona with another city
Frequently asked questions
Is Kailua-Kona, HI an expensive place to live?
Kailua-Kona has a local cost of living index of 107.5, which is 7.5% above the US average. This CostLiving estimate starts from the BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 for nonmetropolitan Hawaii (106.4) and adjusts housing to Kailua-Kona's own rents. It is 2.4 points below the Hawaii average. More expensive than 68% of the cities we cover.
How much money do you need to live in Kailua-Kona?
Our modelled estimate of basic monthly costs is $3,437 for a single adult, $5,347 for a couple and $6,473 for a family of four, before taxes, child care and savings. A $60,000 salary in an average-priced US area buys about the same as $64,500 in Kailua-Kona.
What is the average rent in Kailua-Kona?
The median gross rent (rent plus tenant-paid utilities) is $1,754 a month (Census ACS 2020-2024). By size: 1 bedroom $1,533, 2 bedrooms $1,747, 3 bedrooms $1,966. The typical renter spends 27.4% of household income on rent (moderate).
How much does a house cost in Kailua-Kona?
The median owner-estimated home value is $667,400, 7.6 times the median household income of $88,211 (very expensive). Owners with a mortgage pay a median $2,647 a month in housing costs.
How much is electricity and gas in Kailua-Kona?
Hawaii residential electricity averaged 47.18¢ per kWh in August 2026 (US 18.16¢). Regular gasoline was $4.77 a gallon (West Coast excl. California (PADD 5) average, week of 2026-11-02).
Sources and notes
- Local cost index: CostLiving estimate from BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 for Hawaii nonmetropolitan portion (BEA index 106.4) with housing from Census ACS median rent (city figure); see the methodology.
- Rents, home values, income, population: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year 2020-2024, Census place 1523000 (Kailua CDP).
- Electricity: EIA-861M, Hawaii residential average, August 2026.
- Gasoline: EIA weekly retail regular gasoline, West Coast excl. California (PADD 5), week of 2026-11-02.
- Inflation: BLS CPI-U West region, September 2026.
- Budget baselines: BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey 2025; electricity use by household size: EIA RECS 2020.
- BEA area index: state nonmetro figure (in a micropolitan area; BEA publishes RPPs only for metro areas).
- Rents by bedrooms: modelled from city median rent (city bedroom medians: 3BR median has a wide margin of error).
- Gasoline price: regional figure (EIA publishes weekly prices for only 9 states).
Labels such as “county figure” or “state nonmetro figure” mark values that come from a larger area because the city-level figure is unavailable or unreliable. The monthly budget is a modelled estimate, not observed spending, and excludes taxes. This page is for general information and is not financial advice. Methodology · All sources