Cost of Living Comparison Between Kailua, HI and Seattle, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Kailua, HI and Seattle, WA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,978 in Kailua, HI versus $3,583 in Seattle, WA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,928 in Kailua, HI versus $5,632 in Seattle, WA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,879 in Kailua, HI versus $7,681 in Seattle, WA.

Living in Kailua, HI is roughly 11% more expensive than Seattle, WA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Kailua, HI 197% above, Seattle, WA 168% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$21.18 $21.18

$24.97 $24.97

-15.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$119 $119

-15.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.61 $9.61

$13.90 $13.90

-30.86%

Cappuccino

$6.54 $6.54

$5.56 $5.56

17.63%

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

$2.93 $2.93

$3.06 $3.06

-4.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.47 $2.47

-17.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.85 $7.85

$7.96 $7.96

-1.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.78 $8.78

$8.01 $8.01

9.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.01 $2.01

$1.34 $1.34

50.00%

White Bread (500g)

$6.59 $6.59

$5.05 $5.05

30.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$7.50 $7.50

$5.36 $5.36

39.93%

Eggs

$6.56 $6.56

$6.59 $6.59

-0.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.12 $13.12

$25.31 $25.31

-48.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.32 $18.32

$16.19 $16.19

13.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.64 $19.64

$20.30 $20.30

-3.25%

Apples (1kg)

$7.12 $7.12

$5.97 $5.97

19.26%

Banana (1kg)

$3.94 $3.94

$2.74 $2.74

43.80%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.63 $6.63

$5.36 $5.36

23.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$8.29 $8.29

$6.61 $6.61

25.42%

Potato (1kg)

$3.84 $3.84

$3.25 $3.25

18.15%

Onion (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$3.79 $3.79

19.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$4.76 $4.76

$2.73 $2.73

74.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.16 $3.16

$2.53 $2.53

24.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.97 $11.97

$11.31 $11.31

5.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.75 $12.75

$16.28 $16.28

-21.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.40 $2.40

$2.85 $2.85

-15.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.13 $2.13

$4.16 $4.16

-48.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.12 $4.12

$2.69 $2.69

53.16%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$91.6 $91.6

$97.1 $97.1

-5.63%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.52 $3.52

$2.71 $2.71

29.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.54 $2.54

$1.73 $1.73

46.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$44.22 $44.22

$29.46 $29.46

50.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 $1.23

$1.20 $1.20

2.50%

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

$29.8K $29.8K

$33.6K $33.6K

-11.23%

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

$24.3K $24.3K

$26.0K $26.0K

-6.61%

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

$235 $235

$266 $266

-11.97%

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

$49.64 $49.64

$60.4 $60.4

-17.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.9 $67.9

$76.2 $76.2

-10.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.6 $68.6

$79.2 $79.2

-13.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.67 $40.67

$40.51 $40.51

0.39%

Cinema Ticket

$16.26 $16.26

$16.22 $16.22

0.25%

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

$1,499 $1,499

$2,280 $2,280

-34.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.3K $20.3K

$29.6K $29.6K

-31.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.7 $56.7

$69.6 $69.6

-18.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$61.0 $61.0

$52.6 $52.6

15.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$105 $105

$120 $120

-11.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$127 $127

$143 $143

-11.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,801 $2,801

$2,378 $2,378

17.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,311 $2,311

$1,866 $1,866

23.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,276 $4,276

$4,724 $4,724

-9.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,045 $4,045

$3,510 $3,510

15.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$12.4K $12.4K

$7,711 $7,711

60.72%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$9,965 $9,965

$5,381 $5,381

85.20%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,859 $4,859

$6,493 $6,493

-25.16%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.56

6.42

2.18%

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

Last update for Kailua, HI: April 28, 2026

Last update for Seattle, WA: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,801 in Kailua, HI and $2,378 in Seattle, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 34% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $101 in Kailua, HI vs $119 in Seattle, WA. Groceries flip the comparison at $579 vs $544, with Seattle, WA 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 Seattle, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seattle, WA is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Getting Around. The 11% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Seattle, WA earns 34% 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: $2,801 in Kailua, HI versus $2,378 in Seattle, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Seattle, WA runs roughly 6% less than in Kailua, HI. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $1,499 in Kailua, HI versus $2,280 in Seattle, WA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Seattle, WA is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

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

Safety-wise, Kailua, HI and Seattle, WA 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 Seattle, WA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 11% less than in Kailua, HI. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.