Cost of Living Comparison Between Kailua, HI and New York, NY Cost of Living Comparison Between Kailua, HI and New York, NY

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $4,007 in Kailua, HI versus $4,503 in New York, NY.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,853 in Kailua, HI versus $7,077 in New York, NY.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,700 in Kailua, HI versus $9,650 in New York, NY.

Living in Kailua, HI costs roughly 11% less than in New York, NY, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Kailua, HI 199% above, New York, NY 236% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$21.04 $21.04

$30.28 $30.28

-30.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$142 $142

-28.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.43 $9.43

$12.65 $12.65

-25.45%

Cappuccino

$6.56 $6.56

$5.81 $5.81

12.91%

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

$2.96 $2.96

$3.26 $3.26

-9.20%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 $1.96

$2.58 $2.58

-24.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$8.19 $8.19

-4.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.80 $8.80

$11.82 $11.82

-25.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.04 $2.04

$1.53 $1.53

33.33%

White Bread (500g)

$6.65 $6.65

$5.27 $5.27

26.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$7.56 $7.56

$8.34 $8.34

-9.35%

Eggs

$6.86 $6.86

$7.25 $7.25

-5.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.06 $13.06

$17.29 $17.29

-24.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.01 $18.01

$16.21 $16.21

11.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.52 $19.52

$19.82 $19.82

-1.51%

Apples (1kg)

$6.94 $6.94

$7.57 $7.57

-8.32%

Banana (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$2.42 $2.42

67.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.30 $6.30

$5.83 $5.83

8.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$8.42 $8.42

$6.39 $6.39

31.77%

Potato (1kg)

$3.91 $3.91

$3.87 $3.87

1.03%

Onion (1kg)

$4.49 $4.49

$4.06 $4.06

10.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$4.57 $4.57

$3.12 $3.12

46.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.09 $3.09

$2.45 $2.45

26.12%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.08 $12.08

$19.26 $19.26

-37.28%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.93 $12.93

$19.96 $19.96

-35.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.40 $2.40

$2.99 $2.99

-19.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 $2.05

$3.73 $3.73

-45.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.91 $3.91

$2.84 $2.84

37.68%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$89.3 $89.3

$134 $134

-33.52%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.45 $3.45

$5.11 $5.11

-32.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.64 $2.64

$2.11 $2.11

25.12%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$45.34 $45.34

$42.31 $42.31

7.16%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 $1.28

$0.97 $0.97

31.96%

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

$29.5K $29.5K

$34.7K $34.7K

-15.09%

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

$24.7K $24.7K

$27.8K $27.8K

-11.32%

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

$233 $233

$181 $181

28.42%

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

$50.5 $50.5

$60.2 $60.2

-16.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.0 $67.0

$62.5 $62.5

7.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$70.6 $70.6

$143 $143

-50.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.80 $40.80

$65.3 $65.3

-37.48%

Cinema Ticket

$16.08 $16.08

$19.98 $19.98

-19.52%

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

$1,529 $1,529

$3,216 $3,216

-52.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.2K $20.2K

$57.2K $57.2K

-64.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.8 $57.8

$67.5 $67.5

-14.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$60.0 $60.0

$47.68 $47.68

25.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 $104

$111 $111

-6.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$129 $129

$169 $169

-23.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,810 $2,810

$4,092 $4,092

-31.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,342 $2,342

$2,694 $2,694

-13.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,302 $4,302

$8,445 $8,445

-49.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,961 $3,961

$5,128 $5,128

-22.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$12.6K $12.6K

$18.2K $18.2K

-30.60%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$9,885 $9,885

$6,299 $6,299

56.93%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,734 $4,734

$5,540 $5,540

-14.55%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.56

6.44

1.86%

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

Last update for Kailua, HI: May 30, 2026

Last update for New York, NY: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,810 in Kailua, HI and $4,092 in New York, NY. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

New York, NY pays 17% 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: $101 in Kailua, HI vs $142 in New York, NY. Groceries flip the comparison at $577 vs $554, with New York, NY 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

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

Kailua, HI is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 12% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, New York, NY earns 17% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,810 in Kailua, HI versus $4,092 in New York, NY. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Kailua, HI runs roughly 50% less than in New York, NY. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $1,529 in Kailua, HI versus $3,216 in New York, NY. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Both cities are expensive relative to $4,000. Kailua, HI is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

For families, Kailua, HI is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in New York, NY, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Kailua, HI and New York, NY 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 Kailua, HI gentler on the wallet – expenses run 12% less than in New York, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.