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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,942 per month in Kailua, HI vs $3,969 in Brooklyn, NY, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,853 per month in Kailua, HI vs $5,999 in Brooklyn, NY, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,763 per month in Kailua, HI vs $8,028 in Brooklyn, NY, rent included.

Kailua, HI is about 1% cheaper than Brooklyn, NY, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Kailua, HI and Brooklyn, NY sit above the global median – Kailua, HI by 196%, Brooklyn, NY by 198%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.73 $20.73

$19.77 $19.77

4.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$102 $102

$118 $118

-13.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.63 $9.63

$12.49 $12.49

-22.90%

Cappuccino

$6.45 $6.45

$5.94 $5.94

8.59%

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

$2.92 $2.92

$2.81 $2.81

3.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.01 $2.01

-1.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.94 $7.94

$8.14 $8.14

-2.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.98 $8.98

$7.91 $7.91

13.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.02 $2.02

$1.49 $1.49

35.57%

White Bread (500g)

$6.58 $6.58

$4.75 $4.75

38.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$7.53 $7.53

$6.26 $6.26

20.29%

Eggs

$6.66 $6.66

$5.55 $5.55

20.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.83 $12.83

$13.53 $13.53

-5.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.16 $18.16

$12.59 $12.59

44.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.73 $19.73

$15.04 $15.04

31.18%

Apples (1kg)

$6.87 $6.87

$6.02 $6.02

14.12%

Banana (1kg)

$4.07 $4.07

$3.98 $3.98

2.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.30 $6.30

$5.56 $5.56

13.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$8.10 $8.10

$6.25 $6.25

29.60%

Potato (1kg)

$3.88 $3.88

$5.16 $5.16

-24.81%

Onion (1kg)

$4.62 $4.62

$4.83 $4.83

-4.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$4.58 $4.58

$2.77 $2.77

65.34%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.18 $3.18

$2.41 $2.41

31.95%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.02 $12.02

$15.12 $15.12

-20.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.82 $12.82

$21.26 $21.26

-39.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.49 $2.49

$2.52 $2.52

-1.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 $2.05

$3.52 $3.52

-41.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.89 $3.89

$2.97 $2.97

30.98%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$90.6 $90.6

$132 $132

-31.31%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.51 $3.51

$2.94 $2.94

19.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.56 $2.56

$2.13 $2.13

20.19%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$45.38 $45.38

$41.58 $41.58

9.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 $1.22

$0.95 $0.95

28.42%

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

$30.5K $30.5K

$25.3K $25.3K

20.30%

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

$24.3K $24.3K

$24.8K $24.8K

-1.79%

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

$238 $238

$163 $163

45.67%

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

$49.07 $49.07

$59.7 $59.7

-17.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.2 $66.2

$68.1 $68.1

-2.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$69.4 $69.4

$108 $108

-36.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.30 $40.30

$67.4 $67.4

-40.22%

Cinema Ticket

$16.04 $16.04

$19.89 $19.89

-19.36%

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

$1,486 $1,486

$1,926 $1,926

-22.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.7K $20.7K

$14.4K $14.4K

43.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.5 $56.5

$61.1 $61.1

-7.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$59.7 $59.7

$59.1 $59.1

1.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$107 $107

$109 $109

-2.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$129 $129

$134 $134

-4.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,793 $2,793

$3,178 $3,178

-12.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,300 $2,300

$2,408 $2,408

-4.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,237 $4,237

$6,095 $6,095

-30.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,915 $3,915

$4,397 $4,397

-10.98%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$12.4K $12.4K

$11.8K $11.8K

5.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$9,947 $9,947

$6,692 $6,692

48.62%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,737 $4,737

$3,803 $3,803

24.56%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.56

6.51

0.77%

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

Last update for Kailua, HI: July 27, 2026

Last update for Brooklyn, NY: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,793 in Kailua, HI versus $3,178 in Brooklyn, NY. 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 25% 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 $102 in Kailua, HI versus $118 in Brooklyn, NY. Groceries tell a different story – $575 in Kailua, HI vs $493 in Brooklyn, NY – 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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $3,942 in Kailua, HI, $3,969 in Brooklyn, NY – roughly 1% apart. Brooklyn, NY costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,914 per month in Kailua, HI and $5,954 in Brooklyn, NY. 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 $102 in Kailua, HI and $118 in Brooklyn, NY. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,942 in Kailua, HI and $3,969 in Brooklyn, NY. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,942 in Kailua, HI and $3,969 in Brooklyn, NY. 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 $3,942 in Kailua, HI to $3,969 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.