Cost of LivingUpdated 2026-11-11

Kahului, Hawaii

Living in Kahului, Hawaii is about 65% more expensive than the national average, with a cost of living index of 165 (US = 100). Typical rent is $3,208 a month, 66% above the national figure of $1,932, and regular gas costs $5.63 a gallon versus $3.98 nationally as of November 11, 2026. Rent, gas, groceries, electricity and car insurance take about 61% of the area's $90,740 median household income.

Statesโ€บHawaiiโ€บKahului

Key Numbers

Gas (Regular)

$5.63

National: $3.98

โ†‘ 222.0%since 2000
โœ“ AAA Gas Prices

Avg Rent (All)

$3,208

National: $1,932

โ†‘ 29.3%since 2021
โœ“ Zillow ZORI Kahului, HI metro (2026-09)

Grocery Inflation

1.77%

Year-over-year

โœ“ BLS/FRED CPI

Fast Food Avg

$20.49

Combo meal

โ†‘ 5.4%YoY

Electricity

47.18ยข

per kWh ยท ~$425/mo

โ†‘ 155.9%vs US avg
โœ“ EIA Residential

Car Insurance

$104/mo

$1,249/yr

โ†“ 41.9%vs national avg
โœ“ Bankrate/NAIC

Median Household Income

$90,740

61% goes to essentials

โ†“ 61.0%cost burden
โœ“ Census ACS 2023
๐Ÿš—

Car Insurance

Avg $1,249 in Kahului. Compare rates:

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Find Apartments

Avg rent $3,208/mo in Kahului. Browse listings:

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Grocery Prices

Grocery Prices โ€” 2000 to Present

National BLS averages ยท submit local prices below โ†“

Eggs (dozen)

Bird flu volatility

$0.97 in 2000 โ†’ $2.32 BLS avg

+137.9%

Milk (gallon)

$2.79 in 2000 โ†’ $4.10 BLS avg

+47.3%

Ground Beef (lb)

$1.48 in 2000 โ†’ $6.75 BLS avg

+355.5%

Bread (loaf)

$0.91 in 2000 โ†’ $1.86 BLS avg

+105.2%

Chicken Breast (lb)

$1.06 in 2000 โ†’ $2.03 BLS avg

+91.3%

Butter (lb)

$3.98 BLS avg

-4.2% since 2018

Bacon (lb)

$2.75 in 2000 โ†’ $6.69 BLS avg

+143.1%

Cheddar Cheese (lb)

$3.84 in 2000 โ†’ $6.13 BLS avg

+59.6%

Pasta (lb)

$0.88 in 2000 โ†’ $1.38 BLS avg

+57.1%

Rice (5 lb)

$2.50 in 2000 โ†’ $5.50 BLS avg

+120.6%

Coffee (12 oz)

$2.65 in 2000 โ†’ $6.94 BLS avg

+161.3%

Orange Juice (64 oz)

Citrus shortage

$5.42 estimate

+45.7% since 2022

Potatoes (5 lb)

$1.96 in 2000 โ†’ $4.95 BLS avg

+152.6%

Apples (3 lb)

$5.20 estimate

+15.8% since 2022

Tomatoes (lb)

$1.44 in 2000 โ†’ $2.08 BLS avg

+44.4%

Lettuce (head)

$0.75 in 2000 โ†’ $1.96 BLS avg

+162.3%

Cooking Oil (48 oz)

$7.76 estimate

+40.1% since 2022

Yogurt (32 oz)

$4.94 estimate

+19.0% since 2022

Cereal (family size)

$6.20 estimate

+29.4% since 2022

Frozen Pizza

$8.65 estimate

+37.1% since 2022

Dining & Restaurants

Fast Food Meal

$20.49

Casual Dining

$35.43

Monthly Spend

$581.46

+5.41% YoY

Chain Restaurant Meal Prices โ€” 2022 vs. Today

Combo meal / typical order for one

McDonald's

2022: $8.36

$13.49

+61.4%

Wendy's

2022: $9.44

$14.57

+54.3%

Chipotle

2022: $10.12

$15.11

+49.3%

Starbucks

2022: $4.58

$6.36

+38.9%

Eating out more? Save on groceries with Ibotta and cook at home more often.

Looking for an Apartment in Kahului?

Average 1BR: $2,631/mo ยท 2BR: $3,785/mo

Browse Kahului Apartments โ†’

Kahului Cost of Living FAQ

Is Kahului, HI expensive to live in?

Kahului has a cost of living index of 165, where 100 is the US average, so it is about 65% more expensive than average. It is the 2nd most expensive of the 4 Hawaii cities we track.

What is the average rent in Kahului, HI?

Typical rent in Kahului is $3,208 a month for all home types as of September 2026, 66% above the national figure of $1,932. One bedroom units average about $2,631 and two bedrooms about $3,785. Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index for the metro area.

Is rent going up in Kahului?

Rent in Kahului rose 4.1% over the past year, faster than the 2.7% change nationally.

How much is gas in Kahului?

Regular unleaded costs about $5.63 a gallon in Kahului as of November 11, 2026, based on the AAA average for Hawaii. That is 41% above the national average of $3.98.

How much is electricity in Kahului?

Homes in Hawaii pay an average of 47.2 cents per kWh (EIA), versus 18.4 cents nationally. At 900 kWh a month, a typical bill in Kahului is about $425.

How much is car insurance in Kahului?

Full coverage car insurance averages $1,249 a year in Hawaii, or about $104 a month (Bankrate and NAIC state average), compared with $2,150 a year nationally.

How much do you need to live in Kahului?

Median household income in the Kahului area is $90,740 (Census ACS 2023, county level). Rent, gas, groceries, electricity and car insurance add up to about $55,329 a year, or 61% of that income. Groceries are counted at $7,112 a year, the average household spend on food at home in the region (BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey).

How does Kahului compare with the rest of Hawaii?

Rent in Kahului is 3% below the $3,310 average across the 4 Hawaii cities we track, and its cost of living index of 165 compares with a state average of 155.

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