Cost of Living Comparison Between Hampton, VA and Lihue, HI Cost of Living Comparison Between Hampton, VA and Lihue, HI

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,261 in Hampton, VA versus $3,190 in Lihue, HI.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,924 in Hampton, VA versus $5,540 in Lihue, HI.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,588 in Hampton, VA versus $7,889 in Lihue, HI.

Living in Hampton, VA is roughly 2% more expensive than in Lihue, HI, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Hampton, VA 137% above, Lihue, HI 132% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.23 $20.23

$25.50 $25.50

-20.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.6 $75.6

$112 $112

-32.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.03 $12.03

$13.10 $13.10

-8.17%

Cappuccino

$4.46 $4.46

$6.36 $6.36

-29.87%

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

$3.41 $3.41

$3.72 $3.72

-8.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.41 $2.41

$2.49 $2.49

-3.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.42 $6.42

$6.90 $6.90

-6.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.11 $9.11

$8.03 $8.03

13.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.54 $1.54

$1.83 $1.83

-15.85%

White Bread (500g)

$3.46 $3.46

$6.66 $6.66

-48.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.14 $6.14

$2.85 $2.85

115.44%

Eggs

$5.46 $5.46

$9.96 $9.96

-45.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.13 $8.13

$15.31 $15.31

-46.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$20.05 $20.05

$15.48 $15.48

29.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.71 $23.71

$19.89 $19.89

19.21%

Apples (1kg)

$7.67 $7.67

$4.80 $4.80

59.79%

Banana (1kg)

$3.37 $3.37

$3.32 $3.32

1.51%

Oranges (1kg)

$9.57 $9.57

$8.92 $8.92

7.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$9.82 $9.82

$10.08 $10.08

-2.58%

Potato (1kg)

$6.13 $6.13

$4.78 $4.78

28.24%

Onion (1kg)

$6.77 $6.77

$6.20 $6.20

9.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.74 $2.74

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$5.20 $5.20

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.37 $10.37

$11.90 $11.90

-12.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.75 $17.75

$16.17 $16.17

9.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 $1.69

$1.67 $1.67

1.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.86 $3.86

$1.62 $1.62

138.27%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.79 $3.79

$1.98 $1.98

91.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 $55.3

$51.9 $51.9

6.61%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.08 $5.08

$8.19 $8.19

-37.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.85 $1.85

$1.82 $1.82

1.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$20.16 $20.16

$15.25 $15.25

32.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$1.27 $1.27

-25.20%

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

$36.7K $36.7K

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

$24.8K $24.8K

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

$218 $218

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

$53.2 $53.2

$29.95 $29.95

77.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$78.6 $78.6

$59.9 $59.9

31.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$112 $112

$91.7 $91.7

21.97%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.09 $35.09

Cinema Ticket

$15.65 $15.65

$9.06 $9.06

72.74%

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

$1,297 $1,297

$1,180 $1,180

9.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K $15.1K

$16.3K $16.3K

-7.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.97 $46.97

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.05 $40.05

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$135 $135

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$136 $136

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,647 $1,647

$2,415 $2,415

-31.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,587 $1,587

$2,006 $2,006

-20.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,903 $2,903

$5,236 $5,236

-44.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,884 $2,884

$4,710 $4,710

-38.76%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,348 $2,348

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,780 $3,780

$1,981 $1,981

90.84%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.08

6.25

-2.72%

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

Last update for Hampton, VA: August 31, 2026

Last update for Lihue, HI: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,647 in Hampton, VA and $2,415 in Lihue, HI. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Hampton, VA pays 91% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $76.0 in Hampton, VA vs $112 in Lihue, HI. Groceries flip the comparison at $595 vs $520, with Lihue, HI cheaper for home cooking.

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

Hampton, VA vs Lihue, HI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lihue, HI is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 2% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 91% higher in Hampton, VA, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,647 in Hampton, VA versus $2,415 in Lihue, HI. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $3,261 per month in Hampton, VA versus $3,190 in Lihue, HI – a 2% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Lihue, HI runs roughly 7% less than in Hampton, VA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Lihue, HI is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Hampton, VA and Lihue, HI are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Lihue, HI gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Hampton, VA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.