Cost of Living Comparison Between Brooklyn, NY and Kailua, HI Cost of Living Comparison Between Brooklyn, NY and Kailua, HI

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,927 per month in Brooklyn, NY vs $4,007 in Kailua, HI, rent included.

A couple spends around $6,108 per month in Brooklyn, NY vs $5,853 in Kailua, HI, rent included.

A family of three spends $8,288 per month in Brooklyn, NY vs $7,700 in Kailua, HI, rent included.

Brooklyn, NY is about 2% cheaper than Kailua, HI, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Brooklyn, NY and Kailua, HI sit above the global median – Brooklyn, NY by 193%, Kailua, HI by 199%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.06 $20.06

$21.04 $21.04

-4.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$122 $122

$101 $101

20.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.36 $12.36

$9.43 $9.43

31.07%

Cappuccino

$5.76 $5.76

$6.56 $6.56

-12.20%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 $2.78

$2.96 $2.96

-6.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 $2.05

$1.96 $1.96

4.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.02 $8.02

$7.83 $7.83

2.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.90 $7.90

$8.80 $8.80

-10.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.52 $1.52

$2.04 $2.04

-25.49%

White Bread (500g)

$4.51 $4.51

$6.65 $6.65

-32.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.25 $6.25

$7.56 $7.56

-17.33%

Eggs

$5.50 $5.50

$6.86 $6.86

-19.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.89 $13.89

$13.06 $13.06

6.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.39 $12.39

$18.01 $18.01

-31.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.13 $15.13

$19.52 $19.52

-22.49%

Apples (1kg)

$6.08 $6.08

$6.94 $6.94

-12.39%

Banana (1kg)

$3.96 $3.96

$4.06 $4.06

-2.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.54 $5.54

$6.30 $6.30

-12.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.22 $6.22

$8.42 $8.42

-26.13%

Potato (1kg)

$5.08 $5.08

$3.91 $3.91

29.92%

Onion (1kg)

$4.95 $4.95

$4.49 $4.49

10.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.76 $2.76

$4.57 $4.57

-39.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.32 $2.32

$3.09 $3.09

-24.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.21 $15.21

$12.08 $12.08

25.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.14 $20.14

$12.93 $12.93

55.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.40 $2.40

7.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.57 $3.57

$2.05 $2.05

74.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.84 $2.84

$3.91 $3.91

-27.37%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$130 $130

$89.3 $89.3

45.11%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.07 $3.07

$3.45 $3.45

-11.01%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.22 $2.22

$2.64 $2.64

-15.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.37 $41.37

$45.34 $45.34

-8.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 $0.98

$1.28 $1.28

-23.44%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$25.7K $25.7K

$29.5K $29.5K

-12.86%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$24.2K $24.2K

$24.7K $24.7K

-1.99%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$159 $159

$233 $233

-31.94%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$59.1 $59.1

$50.5 $50.5

17.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.7 $68.7

$67.0 $67.0

2.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$111 $111

$70.6 $70.6

57.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$69.6 $69.6

$40.80 $40.80

70.61%

Cinema Ticket

$20.16 $20.16

$16.08 $16.08

25.37%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,920 $1,920

$1,529 $1,529

25.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.5K $14.5K

$20.2K $20.2K

-28.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.3 $62.3

$57.8 $57.8

7.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$59.5 $59.5

$60.0 $60.0

-0.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$111 $111

$104 $104

6.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$135 $135

$129 $129

4.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,141 $3,141

$2,810 $2,810

11.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,347 $2,347

$2,342 $2,342

0.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$6,008 $6,008

$4,302 $4,302

39.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,398 $4,398

$3,961 $3,961

11.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$11.9K $11.9K

$12.6K $12.6K

-6.06%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,715 $6,715

$9,885 $9,885

-32.07%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,844 $3,844

$4,734 $4,734

-18.79%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

6.56

-0.76%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Brooklyn, NY: May 30, 2026

Last update for Kailua, HI: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $3,141 in Brooklyn, NY versus $2,810 in Kailua, HI. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 23% higher in Kailua, HI, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $122 in Brooklyn, NY versus $101 in Kailua, HI. Groceries tell a different story – $488 in Brooklyn, NY vs $577 in Kailua, HI – so Brooklyn, NY wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Brooklyn, NY vs Kailua, HI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,927 in Brooklyn, NY, $4,007 in Kailua, HI – roughly 2% apart. Kailua, HI costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,891 per month in Brooklyn, NY and $6,011 in Kailua, HI. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Brooklyn, NY, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $122 in Brooklyn, NY and $101 in Kailua, HI. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,927 in Brooklyn, NY and $4,007 in Kailua, HI. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,927 in Brooklyn, NY and $4,007 in Kailua, HI. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Brooklyn, NY has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $3,927 in Brooklyn, NY to $4,007 in Kailua, HI. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Brooklyn, NY. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kailua, HI makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.