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 $4,362 per month in Brooklyn, NY vs $4,159 in Kailua, HI, rent included.

A couple spends around $6,560 per month in Brooklyn, NY vs $6,084 in Kailua, HI, rent included.

A family of three spends $8,759 per month in Brooklyn, NY vs $8,010 in Kailua, HI, rent included.

Brooklyn, NY costs about 5% more than Kailua, HI, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Brooklyn, NY and Kailua, HI sit above the global median – Brooklyn, NY by 216%, Kailua, HI by 202%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.24 $20.24

$27.77 $27.77

-27.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100.0 $100.0

$138 $138

-27.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.16 $12.16

$11.47 $11.47

6.02%

Cappuccino

$5.52 $5.52

$6.30 $6.30

-12.38%

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

$2.60 $2.60

$2.97 $2.97

-12.46%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 $2.08

$2.34 $2.34

-11.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.16 $8.16

$9.42 $9.42

-13.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.83 $8.83

$8.90 $8.90

-0.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.63 $1.63

$2.34 $2.34

-30.34%

White Bread (500g)

$4.82 $4.82

$7.78 $7.78

-38.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.93 $6.93

$7.63 $7.63

-9.17%

Eggs

$6.59 $6.59

$8.55 $8.55

-22.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.61 $16.61

$18.72 $18.72

-11.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.90 $16.90

$16.02 $16.02

5.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.20 $20.20

$21.36 $21.36

-5.43%

Apples (1kg)

$8.01 $8.01

$7.79 $7.79

2.82%

Banana (1kg)

$3.69 $3.69

$4.50 $4.50

-18.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.21 $5.21

$6.76 $6.76

-22.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.05 $6.05

$9.36 $9.36

-35.36%

Potato (1kg)

$3.99 $3.99

$3.71 $3.71

7.55%

Onion (1kg)

$4.73 $4.73

$4.62 $4.62

2.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.64 $2.64

$4.46 $4.46

-40.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$3.02 $3.02

-18.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.18 $15.18

$12.79 $12.79

18.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.70 $20.70

$16.81 $16.81

23.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.68 $2.68

$2.67 $2.67

0.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.36 $3.36

$2.08 $2.08

61.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.06 $3.06

$3.95 $3.95

-22.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$133 $133

$89.0 $89.0

49.77%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.03 $3.03

$3.46 $3.46

-12.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.23 $2.23

$2.53 $2.53

-11.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.62 $42.62

$45.04 $45.04

-5.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.18 $1.18

$1.24 $1.24

-4.84%

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

$35.1K $35.1K

$36.2K $36.2K

-3.06%

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

$25.1K $25.1K

$27.4K $27.4K

-8.18%

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

$249 $249

$244 $244

2.21%

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

$54.3 $54.3

$49.78 $49.78

9.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.2 $62.2

$62.3 $62.3

-0.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$106 $106

$70.4 $70.4

50.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.39 $34.39

$40.49 $40.49

-15.07%

Cinema Ticket

$20.29 $20.29

$18.40 $18.40

10.27%

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

$2,526 $2,526

$2,142 $2,142

17.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$33.8K $33.8K

$27.3K $27.3K

23.93%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.2 $68.2

$61.8 $61.8

10.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$75.3 $75.3

$46.85 $46.85

60.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$121 $121

$102 $102

19.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$120 $120

$130 $130

-7.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,570 $3,570

$2,761 $2,761

29.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,617 $2,617

$2,303 $2,303

13.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$7,281 $7,281

$4,192 $4,192

73.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,749 $4,749

$3,747 $3,747

26.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$13.8K $13.8K

$12.7K $12.7K

9.02%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,901 $7,901

$9,805 $9,805

-19.42%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,736 $3,736

$4,769 $4,769

-21.67%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.33

6.26

1.12%

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

Last update for Brooklyn, NY: September 7, 2026

Last update for Kailua, HI: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $3,570 in Brooklyn, NY versus $2,761 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 28% higher in Kailua, HI, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $100 in Brooklyn, NY versus $138 in Kailua, HI. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $550 vs $632 – making Brooklyn, NY the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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: $4,362 in Brooklyn, NY, $4,159 in Kailua, HI – roughly 5% apart. Brooklyn, NY costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,543 per month in Brooklyn, NY and $6,238 in Kailua, HI. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Kailua, HI, 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 $100 in Brooklyn, NY and $138 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 $4,362 in Brooklyn, NY and $4,159 in Kailua, HI. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

$4,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $4,362 in Brooklyn, NY and $4,159 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 $4,159 in Kailua, HI to $4,362 in Brooklyn, NY. 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 Kailua, HI. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Brooklyn, NY makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.