Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Waipahu, HI Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Waipahu, HI

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,438 per month in New York, NY vs $3,157 in Waipahu, HI, rent included.

A couple spends around $7,016 per month in New York, NY vs $4,780 in Waipahu, HI, rent included.

A family of three spends $9,593 per month in New York, NY vs $6,403 in Waipahu, HI, rent included.

New York, NY costs about 41% more than Waipahu, HI, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both New York, NY and Waipahu, HI sit above the global median – New York, NY by 231%, Waipahu, HI by 136%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$29.91 $29.91

$23.23 $23.23

28.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$144 $144

$99.1 $99.1

45.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.32 $12.32

$14.99 $14.99

-17.81%

Cappuccino

$6.03 $6.03

$7.02 $7.02

-14.10%

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

$3.39 $3.39

$3.78 $3.78

-10.32%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.56 $2.56

$2.86 $2.86

-10.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.20 $8.20

$8.13 $8.13

0.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.95 $11.95

$8.75 $8.75

36.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.54 $1.54

$1.34 $1.34

14.93%

White Bread (500g)

$5.15 $5.15

$6.51 $6.51

-20.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.43 $8.43

$10.42 $10.42

-19.10%

Eggs

$6.97 $6.97

$7.66 $7.66

-9.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.28 $17.28

$12.39 $12.39

39.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.24 $16.24

$18.89 $18.89

-14.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.95 $19.95

$19.78 $19.78

0.86%

Apples (1kg)

$7.45 $7.45

$6.87 $6.87

8.44%

Banana (1kg)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.54 $1.54

57.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.87 $5.87

$6.29 $6.29

-6.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.31 $6.31

$8.15 $8.15

-22.58%

Potato (1kg)

$3.72 $3.72

$5.19 $5.19

-28.32%

Onion (1kg)

$3.99 $3.99

$4.49 $4.49

-11.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.19 $3.19

$4.85 $4.85

-34.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.55 $2.55

$3.18 $3.18

-19.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$19.09 $19.09

$10.06 $10.06

89.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.24 $20.24

$15.03 $15.03

34.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 $2.99

$2.41 $2.41

24.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.87 $3.87

$5.64 $5.64

-31.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.95 $2.95

$2.01 $2.01

46.77%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$131 $131

$81.1 $81.1

61.19%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.13 $5.13

$3.40 $3.40

50.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.20 $2.20

$2.55 $2.55

-13.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.64 $42.64

$44.17 $44.17

-3.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$1.26 $1.26

-24.60%

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

$34.5K $34.5K

$30.5K $30.5K

13.19%

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

$28.2K $28.2K

$24.8K $24.8K

13.70%

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

$182 $182

$235 $235

-22.64%

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

$60.1 $60.1

$66.1 $66.1

-9.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.9 $61.9

$67.3 $67.3

-7.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$140 $140

$43.20 $43.20

224.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$64.4 $64.4

Cinema Ticket

$20.33 $20.33

$16.08 $16.08

26.43%

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

$3,222 $3,222

$1,471 $1,471

119.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$56.2K $56.2K

$20.4K $20.4K

175.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.9 $65.9

$45.43 $45.43

45.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.20 $47.20

$40.48 $40.48

16.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$111 $111

$94.9 $94.9

17.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$173 $173

$124 $124

39.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,208 $4,208

$1,587 $1,587

165.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,647 $2,647

$1,466 $1,466

80.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,415 $8,415

$2,825 $2,825

197.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,170 $5,170

$2,637 $2,637

96.00%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$20.1K $20.1K

$2,497 $2,497

704.83%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$8,742 $8,742

$2,455 $2,455

256.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,144 $5,144

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.59

-2.28%

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

Last update for New York, NY: April 20, 2026

Last update for Waipahu, HI: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $4,208 in New York, NY versus $1,587 in Waipahu, HI. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $144 in New York, NY versus $99 in Waipahu, HI. Groceries tell a different story – $554 in New York, NY vs $587 in Waipahu, HI – so New York, NY wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

New York, NY vs Waipahu, HI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

New York, NY costs about 41% more than Waipahu, HI, with the gap driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,657 per month in New York, NY and $4,735 in Waipahu, HI. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Waipahu, HI, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $3,222 per month in New York, NY and $1,471 in Waipahu, HI. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 6% cheaper in New York, NY – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $4,438 in New York, NY and $3,157 in Waipahu, HI. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Waipahu, HI costs $3,157 versus $4,438 in New York, NY. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Waipahu, HI. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, New York, NY makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.