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: $3,300 in Hampton, VA versus $3,061 in Lihue, HI.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,861 in Hampton, VA versus $4,470 in Lihue, HI.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,421 in Hampton, VA versus $5,880 in Lihue, HI.

Living in Hampton, VA is roughly 8% more expensive than Lihue, HI, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Hampton, VA 146% above, Lihue, HI 128% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$22.83 $22.83

$46.28 $46.28

-50.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.0 $74.0

$79.9 $79.9

-7.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.37 $13.37

$12.41 $12.41

7.74%

Cappuccino

$5.26 $5.26

$6.85 $6.85

-23.21%

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

$3.23 $3.23

$2.59 $2.59

24.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$2.01 $2.01

17.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.57 $6.57

$4.08 $4.08

61.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.61 $7.61

$4.08 $4.08

86.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 $1.38

$1.87 $1.87

-26.20%

White Bread (500g)

$4.20 $4.20

$6.75 $6.75

-37.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$10.32 $10.32

$2.86 $2.86

260.84%

Eggs

$5.69 $5.69

$10.27 $10.27

-44.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.35 $10.35

$15.33 $15.33

-32.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$26.11 $26.11

$15.42 $15.42

69.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.13 $24.13

$19.91 $19.91

21.20%

Apples (1kg)

$7.76 $7.76

$4.73 $4.73

64.06%

Banana (1kg)

$2.54 $2.54

$1.64 $1.64

54.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$10.07 $10.07

$8.55 $8.55

17.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$10.10 $10.10

$9.74 $9.74

3.70%

Potato (1kg)

$6.18 $6.18

$2.82 $2.82

119.15%

Onion (1kg)

$7.12 $7.12

$6.02 $6.02

18.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.66 $3.66

$3.62 $3.62

1.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$4.43 $4.43

$2.10 $2.10

110.95%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.35 $10.35

$11.82 $11.82

-12.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.10 $18.10

$14.15 $14.15

27.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.69 $1.69

1.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 $3.80

$1.64 $1.64

131.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.82 $3.82

$1.97 $1.97

93.91%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.5 $54.5

$52.4 $52.4

4.09%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.04 $5.04

$3.56 $3.56

41.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.84 $1.84

$1.65 $1.65

11.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$20.25 $20.25

$28.89 $28.89

-29.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.87 $0.87

$1.40 $1.40

-37.86%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$29.4K $29.4K

-11.44%

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

$24.2K $24.2K

$25.6K $25.6K

-5.59%

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

$219 $219

$184 $184

19.04%

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

$52.7 $52.7

$30.52 $30.52

72.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.4 $66.4

$55.7 $55.7

19.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$111 $111

$43.21 $43.21

156.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.83 $34.83

Cinema Ticket

$15.13 $15.13

$9.24 $9.24

63.74%

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

$1,293 $1,293

$1,185 $1,185

9.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K $15.1K

$16.1K $16.1K

-6.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.58 $46.58

$51.5 $51.5

-9.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.40 $40.40

$40.67 $40.67

-0.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$86.9 $86.9

34.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$120 $120

$110 $110

8.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,488 $1,488

$1,987 $1,987

-25.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,559 $1,559

$1,529 $1,529

1.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,596 $2,596

$2,613 $2,613

-0.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,605 $2,605

$2,197 $2,197

18.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,926 $2,926

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,290 $2,290

$2,567 $2,567

-10.79%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,691 $3,691

$2,007 $2,007

83.94%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.26

6.5

-3.69%

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

Last update for Hampton, VA: June 2, 2026

Last update for Lihue, HI: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,488 in Hampton, VA and $1,987 in Lihue, HI. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Hampton, VA pays 84% 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: $74.0 in Hampton, VA vs $80.0 in Lihue, HI. Groceries flip the comparison at $652 vs $538, 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 8% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Hampton, VA pays 84% more on average, 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: $1,488 in Hampton, VA versus $1,987 in Lihue, HI. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $3,300 per month in Hampton, VA versus $3,061 in Lihue, HI – a 8% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Lihue, HI runs roughly 4% 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 8% less than in Hampton, VA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.