Cost of Living Comparison Between Lihue, HI and Napa, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Lihue, HI and Napa, CA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,097 in Lihue, HI versus $4,189 in Napa, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,529 in Lihue, HI versus $6,594 in Napa, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,960 in Lihue, HI versus $8,999 in Napa, CA.

Living in Lihue, HI costs roughly 26% less than in Napa, CA, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lihue, HI 133% above, Napa, CA 215% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$45.68 $45.68

$24.53 $24.53

86.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.9 $80.9

$102 $102

-20.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.55 $12.55

$13.77 $13.77

-8.86%

Cappuccino

$7.21 $7.21

$6.01 $6.01

19.97%

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

$2.61 $2.61

$3.20 $3.20

-18.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.27 $2.27

-12.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.08 $4.08

$7.99 $7.99

-48.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.06 $4.06

$8.05 $8.05

-49.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.83 $1.83

$1.44 $1.44

27.08%

White Bread (500g)

$6.77 $6.77

$5.20 $5.20

30.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.95 $2.95

$6.14 $6.14

-51.95%

Eggs

$10.07 $10.07

$4.94 $4.94

103.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.45 $15.45

$19.21 $19.21

-19.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.39 $15.39

$14.88 $14.88

3.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.55 $19.55

$12.08 $12.08

61.84%

Apples (1kg)

$4.72 $4.72

$7.15 $7.15

-33.99%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 $1.57

$2.18 $2.18

-27.98%

Oranges (1kg)

$8.61 $8.61

$5.17 $5.17

66.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$10.16 $10.16

$7.13 $7.13

42.50%

Potato (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$2.26 $2.26

24.78%

Onion (1kg)

$6.31 $6.31

$1.08 $1.08

484.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.53 $3.53

$2.83 $2.83

24.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.13 $2.13

$2.77 $2.77

-23.10%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.19 $12.19

$13.94 $13.94

-12.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.81 $15.81

$15.33 $15.33

3.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 $1.68

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.63 $1.63

$3.37 $3.37

-51.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.96 $1.96

$4.46 $4.46

-56.05%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$52.5 $52.5

$40.34 $40.34

30.02%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.41 $3.41

$4.03 $4.03

-15.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.58 $1.58

$1.88 $1.88

-15.96%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.43 $29.43

$39.29 $39.29

-25.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 $1.38

$1.26 $1.26

9.52%

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

$29.3K $29.3K

$32.6K $32.6K

-9.96%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$26.1K $26.1K

-1.89%

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

$187 $187

$221 $221

-15.34%

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

$30.34 $30.34

$64.1 $64.1

-52.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$55.1 $55.1

$67.7 $67.7

-18.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.83 $42.83

$250 $250

-82.88%

Cinema Ticket

$8.95 $8.95

$15.23 $15.23

-41.23%

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

$1,205 $1,205

$982 $982

22.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.2K $16.2K

$29.6K $29.6K

-45.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.4 $51.4

$61.4 $61.4

-16.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.37 $40.37

$40.43 $40.43

-0.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.6 $86.6

$102 $102

-15.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 $111

$118 $118

-5.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,983 $1,983

$2,749 $2,749

-27.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,526 $1,526

$2,475 $2,475

-38.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,584 $2,584

$4,727 $4,727

-45.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,220 $2,220

$4,933 $4,933

-55.00%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,154 $8,154

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,864 $7,864

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,014 $2,014

$4,954 $4,954

-59.36%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.5

6.36

2.20%

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

Last update for Lihue, HI: July 27, 2026

Last update for Napa, CA: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,983 in Lihue, HI and $2,749 in Napa, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Napa, CA pays 146% 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: $81.0 in Lihue, HI vs $102 in Napa, CA. Groceries flip the comparison at $542 vs $483, with Napa, CA 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

Lihue, HI vs Napa, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lihue, HI wins on cost – living expenses run 35% lower than in Napa, CA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Lihue, HI the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 146% lower in Napa, CA. 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: $1,983 in Lihue, HI versus $2,749 in Napa, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $3,097 per month in Lihue, HI versus $4,189 in Napa, CA – a 35% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Lihue, HI runs roughly 30% less than in Napa, CA. 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, Lihue, HI and Napa, CA 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 35% less than in Napa, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.