Hawaii is a chain of islands formed by volcanoes long before adventurers ever found it.
To get a better scale than a world map would show, Hawaii is 11,000 square miles.
For comparison, it’s about the same size as the European nation of Belgium.
Hawaii is also twice the size of the Bahamas.
On the flip side, it would fit into Texas 25 times.
Due to the vastness of the ocean, it took humans a while to find the islands.
Polynesians found and settled on the land about 1,000 years ago.
It took almost 800 years for Europeans to butt in.
Despite protests by Queen Lli’uokalani, it only took a century before the independent Kingdom of Hawai’i was overthrown and annexed by the US.
That had more to do with the West seeing Hawaii as a goldmine than anything else.
They weren’t wrong about that, though.
Around 10 million visitors come to Hawaii each year, a $2.7 billion industry.
But what about living there?
10 Cheapest Places to Live in Hawaii
1. Hana, Maui
Just a tad over 1,100 people call Hana home.
It’s considered the safest city in Hawaii, which makes it attractive for families and singles alike.
The road to Hana is over 50 miles of gorgeous views and could be part of your daily commute.
What else can you find on the eastern tip of Maui?
The Hana Forest Reserve takes up almost all of the land.
The part lived on just so happens to be a slender stretch of the water, next to Wai’anapanapa State Park.
Thanks to the extremely limited space, it can be nearly impossible to find a rental here.
House prices are $459,000 on average.
2. Wailuku, Maui
Another Maui choice, Wailuku is on the fin part of the island’s fish shape.
There’s a donut shop on the beach because who doesn’t want to relax with a little treat?
While you’re at it, Iao Valley State Park is 4,000 acres of tropical fantasy.
Rent is going to be around $3,000 a month.
To buy, expect to spend about half a million on a property.
3. Kahului, Maui
30,000 people pack a tight area in north Maui.
It’s hard to imagine paying $6,000 a month for a three-bedroom home, but that’s not unheard of in Kahului.
There are never that many rentals here, so people are ready to shell out when the opportunity strikes.
Living by the Maui Nui Botanical Gardens surely helped sweeten that deal.
$500,000 is the average price being paid for a home.
4. Kapa’a, Kauai
To the north, on the island of Kauai, is Kapa’a.
Popular with retirees, Kapa’a has an average house price of $480,000.
There is a three-bedroom home here listed at $15,000 a month.
It’s in the middle of a forest though, so that’s not typical.
Thank goodness.
Suddenly, the average prices of $2,500 to $5,000 don’t seem so bad.
5. Waimalu, Oahu
Waimalu may not be on the ocean exactly, but it’s still waterfront.
Sitting on East Loch, northwest of Honolulu, Waimalu has plenty of non-beach outdoor activity spots.
There’s a baseball field, parks, and even hiking trails.
Access to coffee shops and quick food pickups is easy.
Around 14,000 people call Waimalu home.
If the mountains are calling your name, too, be prepared for the median house price of $475,000.
6. Hilo
On the west side of the Big Island, Hilo is oceanfront property.
Aside from the sound of the waves, there are plenty of reasons to choose this part of Hawaii to call home.
There is Panaewa Rainforest Zoo and Gardens, Imiloa Astronomy Center, Wailuku River State Park, Carlsmith Beach Park, and more.
Let’s not even get started with how fresh the locally-grown produce is.
If you want to purchase a home in Hilo, the median price is $440,000.
7. Hawaiian Paradise Park
On the coast, just south of Hilo, is a city with a perfect name.
This is a nice place to go even if you live in a different part of Hawaii.
Who can resist names like Kaoli Sunrise by the Sea or Ala Kai Bed and Breakfast?
Mountain views in one direction and ocean in the other, does a more scenic spot exist?
To be part of the community here, prepare to spend an average of $420,000 on a home.
8. Waipio, Oahu
Immediately west of Waimalu sits Waipio.
This narrow stretch of land also has Starbucks and fast food joints aplenty.
However, the boundary stops just short of actually making contact with water.
12,000 people would share your pain of being without a piece of the shore.
However, outdoor activities abound in Waipio.
You won’t even realize the beach is missing.
Even if you did, though, it would be a short drive to one, of course.
The median home price here is $500,000.
9. Mililani, Oahu
Smack dab in the middle of Oahu is the landlocked Mililani.
Since so much of the area is protected land, there isn’t a ton of space left for housing.
So, as you might imagine, there are lots of homes squished together to the west.
As a renter, you can expect to not pay more than $2,500 for a space.
Even at that dollar amount, many properties are less than 800 square feet.
Just something to consider.
Want to own?
The median price is $660,000.
10. Honolulu, Oahu
The heavily populated and famously known city of Honolulu might be a surprise on the list.
Most would imagine living in the iconic Hawaiian destination might be nearly impossible.
To be fair, the market is tight in this part of the islands.
Honolulu takes up the entire toe portion of the Ohau boot but there’s still only so much land to go around.
Many of the cities on this list are slices of quiet paradise.
Honolulu is more of a major city feel with hustle and bustle going on but with an ocean view.
Oh, also hiking, shopping, and luxury services.
The median house price is $515,000.
Hawaii Safety Overview
READ THE FULL REPORT: Hawaii Safety Review
Safety Index:
- OVERALL RISK: LOW
- TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: MEDIUM
- PICKPOCKETS RISK: MEDIUM
- NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: HIGH
- MUGGING RISK: LOW
- TERRORISM RISK: MEDIUM
- SCAMS RISK: MEDIUM
- WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: MEDIUM
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the issue with moving to Hawaii?
The problem that has been going on for quite some time has recently been getting coverage.
What’s happening is heartbreaking for many natives of Hawaii.
Essentially, people with financial means are moving to Hawaii and buying up long-standing properties or building their own.
This surge of newbies has dramatically driven up home prices.
An unintended consequence is that people whose families have been here for generations are no longer able to afford to live in their homeland.
Locals are either being forced to live in places with problems or abandon the islands altogether.
Naturally, that feels very unfair to anyone who has called Hawaii home and is now being pushed out.
It’s also expected that this is causing tension between those who are native and those who aren’t.
So, it’s definitely something that should be deeply considered before picking up and moving to Hawaii.
What's the cost of living in Hawaii?
While we found some cheaper areas in the state, Hawaii is still the most expensive place to live in America.
The cost of living on the islands is about double the rest of the country.
Much of that has to do with the location of Hawaii.
Living essentially in the middle of the ocean means it takes a lot more effort to get resources to you.
All of that transportation cost adds up.
Not only do the citizens need things, but Hawaii is a massive tourist destination.
So, since travelers view it as an oasis, the idea is to keep it at a luxury level.
Everything we expect on the mainland has to be in Hawaii and oftentimes better quality.
Those things alone aren’t helping.
Hawaii also has one of the highest income tax rates in the country.
What's something I should know before moving to Hawaii?
Even though we list places that are cheaper, it’s important to manage expectations.
Sure, there may be a two-bedroom apartment available for $1,700 but it’s only 100 square feet.
That’s the price for paradise, as they say.
When it comes to a place like Hawaii, you might want to just get used to less space.
Sort of like someone moving to New York City.
The insanely small spaces people squeeze into in order to make a life there are wild.
A similar sentiment can be said about Hawaii.
Another thing about living on one of the Hawaiian islands is you should expect to pay more in taxes, both income and state.
There’s also always a risk of natural disasters as well as a narrow job market.
