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: $4,207 in Napa, CA versus $3,123 in Lihue, HI.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $6,572 in Napa, CA versus $4,527 in Lihue, HI.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $8,937 in Napa, CA versus $5,931 in Lihue, HI.

Living in Napa, CA is roughly 35% more expensive than Lihue, HI, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Napa, CA 213% above, Lihue, HI 132% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.86 $24.86

$46.20 $46.20

-46.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.9 $98.9

$80.6 $80.6

22.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.81 $13.81

$12.40 $12.40

11.37%

Cappuccino

$5.92 $5.92

$7.05 $7.05

-16.03%

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

$3.30 $3.30

$2.51 $2.51

31.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.05 $2.05

14.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.97 $7.97

$3.98 $3.98

100.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.91 $7.91

$3.95 $3.95

100.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.52 $1.52

$1.81 $1.81

-16.02%

White Bread (500g)

$5.01 $5.01

$6.78 $6.78

-26.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.12 $6.12

$2.93 $2.93

108.87%

Eggs

$5.07 $5.07

$10.16 $10.16

-50.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.93 $18.93

$15.19 $15.19

24.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.74 $14.74

$15.64 $15.64

-5.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.91 $11.91

$19.60 $19.60

-39.23%

Apples (1kg)

$7.03 $7.03

$4.75 $4.75

48.00%

Banana (1kg)

$2.24 $2.24

$1.62 $1.62

38.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.20 $5.20

$8.75 $8.75

-40.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.35 $7.35

$10.03 $10.03

-26.72%

Potato (1kg)

$2.18 $2.18

$2.87 $2.87

-24.04%

Onion (1kg)

$1.12 $1.12

$6.21 $6.21

-81.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.93 $2.93

$3.45 $3.45

-15.07%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.86 $2.86

$2.19 $2.19

30.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.22 $14.22

$11.81 $11.81

20.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.47 $15.47

$14.06 $14.06

10.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 $1.78

$1.64 $1.64

8.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.36 $3.36

$1.69 $1.69

98.82%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.40 $4.40

$2.03 $2.03

116.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.69 $40.69

$51.6 $51.6

-21.17%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.10 $4.10

$3.44 $3.44

19.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.89 $1.89

$1.61 $1.61

17.39%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$38.95 $38.95

$29.50 $29.50

32.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 $1.32

$1.34 $1.34

-1.49%

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

$33.1K $33.1K

$29.8K $29.8K

11.07%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$26.0K $26.0K

-1.29%

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

$222 $222

$190 $190

16.74%

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

$64.0 $64.0

$30.22 $30.22

111.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.4 $68.4

$54.3 $54.3

25.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$248 $248

$42.74 $42.74

479.88%

Cinema Ticket

$14.73 $14.73

$8.82 $8.82

67.01%

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

$1,015 $1,015

$1,213 $1,213

-16.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.3K $30.3K

$16.3K $16.3K

85.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.8 $61.8

$50.8 $50.8

21.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.72 $40.72

$39.40 $39.40

3.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 $102

$85.6 $85.6

19.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$120 $120

$112 $112

6.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,735 $2,735

$2,001 $2,001

36.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,477 $2,477

$1,497 $1,497

65.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,832 $4,832

$2,591 $2,591

86.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,029 $5,029

$2,180 $2,180

130.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,243 $8,243

$2,997 $2,997

175.10%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,870 $7,870

$2,696 $2,696

191.95%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,938 $4,938

$2,028 $2,028

143.49%

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: June 6, 2026

Last update for Lihue, HI: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,735 in Napa, CA and $2,001 in Lihue, HI. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Napa, CA pays 143% 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: $99.0 in Napa, CA vs $81.0 in Lihue, HI. Groceries flip the comparison at $484 vs $540, 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 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.

Napa, CA pays 143% 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: $2,735 in Napa, CA versus $2,001 in Lihue, HI. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $4,207 per month in Napa, CA versus $3,123 in Lihue, HI – 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 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 35% less than in Napa, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.