Cost of Living Comparison Between Lihue, HI and San Francisco, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Lihue, HI and San Francisco, CA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,124 in Lihue, HI versus $4,457 in San Francisco, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,521 in Lihue, HI versus $6,585 in San Francisco, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,918 in Lihue, HI versus $8,713 in San Francisco, CA.

Living in Lihue, HI costs roughly 30% less than in San Francisco, CA, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lihue, HI 134% above, San Francisco, CA 234% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$45.18 $45.18

$25.17 $25.17

79.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.0 $80.0

$132 $132

-39.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.44 $12.44

$15.14 $15.14

-17.83%

Cappuccino

$6.82 $6.82

$5.78 $5.78

17.99%

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

$2.57 $2.57

$3.25 $3.25

-20.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 $1.99

$2.47 $2.47

-19.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.90 $3.90

$8.12 $8.12

-51.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.91 $3.91

$7.98 $7.98

-51.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 $1.81

$1.46 $1.46

23.97%

White Bread (500g)

$6.75 $6.75

$5.21 $5.21

29.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.80 $2.80

$6.54 $6.54

-57.19%

Eggs

$10.29 $10.29

$6.10 $6.10

68.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.61 $15.61

$23.31 $23.31

-33.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.20 $15.20

$15.24 $15.24

-0.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.86 $19.86

$23.58 $23.58

-15.78%

Apples (1kg)

$4.80 $4.80

$7.02 $7.02

-31.62%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 $1.64

$2.82 $2.82

-41.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$8.86 $8.86

$5.38 $5.38

64.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$9.71 $9.71

$7.38 $7.38

31.57%

Potato (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$3.90 $3.90

-28.46%

Onion (1kg)

$6.09 $6.09

$3.96 $3.96

53.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.62 $3.62

$2.79 $2.79

29.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.10 $2.10

$2.88 $2.88

-27.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.10 $12.10

$14.02 $14.02

-13.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.03 $16.03

$14.73 $14.73

8.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 $1.62

$2.50 $2.50

-35.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.62 $1.62

$3.34 $3.34

-51.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.02 $2.02

$2.93 $2.93

-31.06%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$52.2 $52.2

$93.8 $93.8

-44.32%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.43 $3.43

$4.13 $4.13

-16.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.60 $1.60

$1.98 $1.98

-19.19%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.57 $29.57

$39.45 $39.45

-25.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 $1.41

$1.27 $1.27

11.02%

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

$29.5K $29.5K

$35.5K $35.5K

-16.82%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$25.7K $25.7K

1.46%

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

$190 $190

$221 $221

-13.99%

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

$30.24 $30.24

$65.4 $65.4

-53.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$55.6 $55.6

$67.1 $67.1

-17.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.65 $42.65

$98.9 $98.9

-56.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.81 $12.81

Cinema Ticket

$8.98 $8.98

$17.28 $17.28

-48.03%

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

$1,204 $1,204

$3,185 $3,185

-62.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.7K $15.7K

$38.7K $38.7K

-59.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.3 $50.3

$69.7 $69.7

-27.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.78 $40.78

$46.05 $46.05

-11.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.3 $87.3

$100 $100

-12.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 $112

$150 $150

-25.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,038 $2,038

$3,297 $3,297

-38.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,506 $1,506

$2,837 $2,837

-46.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,613 $2,613

$5,406 $5,406

-51.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,247 $2,247

$4,438 $4,438

-49.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,993 $2,993

$10.7K $10.7K

-71.98%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,227 $2,227

$8,742 $8,742

-74.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,976 $1,976

$7,420 $7,420

-73.38%

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 14, 2026

Last update for San Francisco, CA: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,038 in Lihue, HI and $3,297 in San Francisco, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

San Francisco, CA pays 276% 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: $80.0 in Lihue, HI vs $132 in San Francisco, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $542 vs $558 per month, with Lihue, HI cheaper across the board.

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 San Francisco, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lihue, HI wins on cost – living expenses run 43% lower than in San Francisco, 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 276% lower in San Francisco, 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: $2,038 in Lihue, HI versus $3,297 in San Francisco, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $3,124 per month in Lihue, HI versus $4,457 in San Francisco, CA – a 43% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Lihue, HI runs roughly 80% less than in San Francisco, 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 work as nomad bases, but Lihue, HI delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $3,124 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Lihue, HI hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Lihue, HI and San Francisco, 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 43% less than in San Francisco, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.