Cost of Living Comparison Between Reston, VA and Kahului, HI Cost of Living Comparison Between Reston, VA and Kahului, HI

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,274 in Reston, VA versus $3,443 in Kahului, HI.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,141 in Reston, VA versus $4,930 in Kahului, HI.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,008 in Reston, VA versus $6,417 in Kahului, HI.

Living in Reston, VA costs roughly 5% less than in Kahului, HI, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Reston, VA 144% above, Kahului, HI 156% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.33 $24.33

$19.33 $19.33

25.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$106 $106

$81.1 $81.1

30.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.80 $10.80

$15.77 $15.77

-31.52%

Cappuccino

$5.44 $5.44

$7.14 $7.14

-23.81%

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

$2.99 $2.99

$2.84 $2.84

5.28%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.55 $2.55

$3.58 $3.58

-28.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.62 $7.62

$6.80 $6.80

12.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.80 $7.80

$7.68 $7.68

1.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.24 $1.24

$1.68 $1.68

-26.19%

White Bread (500g)

$3.68 $3.68

$3.43 $3.43

7.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.92 $6.92

$4.40 $4.40

57.27%

Eggs

$5.36 $5.36

$4.18 $4.18

28.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.40 $19.40

$12.16 $12.16

59.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$20.20 $20.20

$10.90 $10.90

85.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.85 $24.85

$15.23 $15.23

63.16%

Apples (1kg)

$7.72 $7.72

$8.99 $8.99

-14.13%

Banana (1kg)

$1.84 $1.84

$1.63 $1.63

12.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.46 $5.46

$4.15 $4.15

31.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.86 $5.86

$8.82 $8.82

-33.56%

Potato (1kg)

$3.56 $3.56

$6.58 $6.58

-45.90%

Onion (1kg)

$3.24 $3.24

$2.77 $2.77

16.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.60 $2.60

$3.01 $3.01

-13.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.81 $2.81

$1.63 $1.63

72.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.95 $7.95

$9.74 $9.74

-18.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.18 $18.18

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 $1.69

$1.86 $1.86

-9.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.71 $3.71

$3.93 $3.93

-5.60%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$5.95 $5.95

$2.02 $2.02

194.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$132 $132

$45.47 $45.47

189.82%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.98 $3.98

$3.46 $3.46

15.03%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.33 $1.33

$1.60 $1.60

-16.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.87 $24.87

$29.68 $29.68

-16.21%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.89 $0.89

$1.20 $1.20

-25.83%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$39.8K $39.8K

-34.45%

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

$24.9K $24.9K

$25.7K $25.7K

-3.16%

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

$216 $216

$211 $211

2.35%

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

$52.4 $52.4

$79.8 $79.8

-34.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.9 $70.9

$54.8 $54.8

29.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$99.9 $99.9

$42.56 $42.56

134.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.61 $29.61

Cinema Ticket

$14.77 $14.77

$13.23 $13.23

11.64%

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

$1,821 $1,821

$1,301 $1,301

39.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$36.4K $36.4K

$23.5K $23.5K

54.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.70 $46.70

$37.64 $37.64

24.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.01 $49.01

$25.37 $25.37

93.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.6 $92.6

$63.7 $63.7

45.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$121 $121

$104 $104

16.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,964 $1,964

$2,514 $2,514

-21.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,538 $1,538

$2,120 $2,120

-27.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,690 $3,690

$3,509 $3,509

5.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,260 $3,260

$3,451 $3,451

-5.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,375 $6,375

$11.8K $11.8K

-45.81%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,367 $4,367

$11.6K $11.6K

-62.41%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,245 $6,245

$4,731 $4,731

31.99%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.55

6.51

0.61%

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

Last update for Reston, VA: June 8, 2026

Last update for Kahului, HI: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,964 in Reston, VA and $2,514 in Kahului, HI. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Reston, VA pays 32% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $106 in Reston, VA vs $81.0 in Kahului, HI for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $546 vs $412 per month, with Kahului, 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

Reston, VA vs Kahului, HI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Reston, VA wins on cost – living expenses run 5% lower than in Kahului, HI. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Reston, VA the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Reston, VA pays 32% 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: $1,964 in Reston, VA versus $2,514 in Kahului, HI. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,821 in Reston, VA versus $1,301 in Kahului, HI. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Shoppers in Kahului, HI pay roughly 33% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Reston, VA 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, Reston, VA and Kahului, 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 Reston, VA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in Kahului, HI. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.