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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $4,299 in Napa, CA versus $3,152 in Lihue, HI.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $6,596 in Napa, CA versus $4,492 in Lihue, HI.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $8,893 in Napa, CA versus $5,832 in Lihue, HI.

Living in Napa, CA is roughly 36% more expensive than Lihue, HI, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Napa, CA 221% above, Lihue, HI 135% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.36 $25.36

$45.21 $45.21

-43.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$80.1 $80.1

26.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.01 $14.01

$12.66 $12.66

10.66%

Cappuccino

$5.94 $5.94

$7.05 $7.05

-15.74%

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

$3.29 $3.29

$2.57 $2.57

28.02%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.31 $2.31

$2.04 $2.04

13.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.17 $8.17

$3.98 $3.98

105.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.22 $8.22

$4.11 $4.11

100.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.49 $1.49

$1.82 $1.82

-18.13%

White Bread (500g)

$5.11 $5.11

$6.73 $6.73

-24.07%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.20 $6.20

$2.82 $2.82

119.86%

Eggs

$5.03 $5.03

$10.04 $10.04

-49.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.08 $19.08

$15.51 $15.51

23.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.23 $15.23

$15.72 $15.72

-3.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.91 $11.91

$19.99 $19.99

-40.42%

Apples (1kg)

$7.20 $7.20

$4.73 $4.73

52.22%

Banana (1kg)

$2.23 $2.23

$1.57 $1.57

42.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.34 $5.34

$8.60 $8.60

-37.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.23 $7.23

$9.88 $9.88

-26.82%

Potato (1kg)

$2.14 $2.14

$2.83 $2.83

-24.38%

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 $1.07

$6.01 $6.01

-82.20%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.95 $2.95

$3.61 $3.61

-18.28%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.77 $2.77

$2.20 $2.20

25.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.95 $13.95

$12.17 $12.17

14.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.82 $15.82

$13.81 $13.81

14.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 $1.68

$1.63 $1.63

3.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.32 $3.32

$1.61 $1.61

106.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.43 $4.43

$1.96 $1.96

126.02%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.21 $40.21

$51.2 $51.2

-21.42%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.18 $4.18

$3.40 $3.40

22.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.83 $1.83

$1.57 $1.57

16.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$38.55 $38.55

$29.05 $29.05

32.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 $1.33

$1.41 $1.41

-5.67%

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

$32.7K $32.7K

$29.2K $29.2K

12.05%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$25.9K $25.9K

-1.65%

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

$222 $222

$186 $186

19.81%

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

$65.0 $65.0

$30.13 $30.13

115.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.8 $67.8

$54.1 $54.1

25.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$254 $254

$42.27 $42.27

501.32%

Cinema Ticket

$15.08 $15.08

$8.96 $8.96

68.30%

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

$984 $984

$1,179 $1,179

-16.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.4K $30.4K

$15.8K $15.8K

92.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.5 $60.5

$50.4 $50.4

20.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.30 $40.30

$40.03 $40.03

0.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$87.8 $87.8

14.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 $122

$113 $113

7.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,793 $2,793

$2,010 $2,010

38.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,486 $2,486

$1,513 $1,513

64.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,694 $4,694

$2,673 $2,673

75.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,924 $4,924

$2,221 $2,221

121.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,321 $8,321

$2,813 $2,813

195.80%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,721 $7,721

$2,543 $2,543

203.63%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,951 $4,951

$1,990 $1,990

148.82%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.36

6.5

-2.15%

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

Last update for Napa, CA: April 26, 2026

Last update for Lihue, HI: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,793 in Napa, CA and $2,010 in Lihue, HI. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Napa, CA pays 149% 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 Napa, CA vs $80.0 in Lihue, HI. Groceries flip the comparison at $487 vs $539, 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

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

Lihue, HI wins on cost – living expenses run 36% 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.

Napa, CA pays 149% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,793 in Napa, CA versus $2,010 in Lihue, HI. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $4,299 per month in Napa, CA versus $3,152 in Lihue, HI – a 36% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Lihue, HI runs roughly 27% 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, Napa, CA and Lihue, HI 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 36% less than in Napa, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.