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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $4,463 in San Francisco, CA versus $3,190 in Lihue, HI.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $6,812 in San Francisco, CA versus $5,540 in Lihue, HI.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $9,161 in San Francisco, CA versus $7,889 in Lihue, HI.

Living in San Francisco, CA is roughly 40% more expensive than in Lihue, HI, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: San Francisco, CA 225% above, Lihue, HI 132% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.72 $24.72

$25.50 $25.50

-3.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$121 $121

$112 $112

7.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.27 $15.27

$13.10 $13.10

16.56%

Cappuccino

$5.79 $5.79

$6.36 $6.36

-8.96%

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

$3.18 $3.18

$3.72 $3.72

-14.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.75 $2.75

$2.49 $2.49

10.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.99 $7.99

$6.90 $6.90

15.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.79 $8.79

$8.03 $8.03

9.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 $1.73

$1.83 $1.83

-5.46%

White Bread (500g)

$5.91 $5.91

$6.66 $6.66

-11.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.15 $5.15

$2.85 $2.85

80.70%

Eggs

$5.19 $5.19

$9.96 $9.96

-47.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.23 $17.23

$15.31 $15.31

12.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.46 $16.46

$15.48 $15.48

6.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.66 $23.66

$19.89 $19.89

18.95%

Apples (1kg)

$6.66 $6.66

$4.80 $4.80

38.75%

Banana (1kg)

$3.01 $3.01

$3.32 $3.32

-9.34%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.70 $4.70

$8.92 $8.92

-47.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.12 $7.12

$10.08 $10.08

-29.37%

Potato (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$4.78 $4.78

-34.10%

Onion (1kg)

$3.88 $3.88

$6.20 $6.20

-37.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.06 $3.06

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.85 $2.85

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.07 $12.07

$11.90 $11.90

1.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.23 $15.23

$16.17 $16.17

-5.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.29 $3.29

$1.67 $1.67

97.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.43 $3.43

$1.62 $1.62

111.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.04 $3.04

$1.98 $1.98

53.54%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$91.4 $91.4

$51.9 $51.9

76.17%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.07 $4.07

$8.19 $8.19

-50.31%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.07 $2.07

$1.82 $1.82

13.74%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$38.35 $38.35

$15.25 $15.25

151.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.48 $1.48

$1.27 $1.27

16.54%

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

$37.3K $37.3K

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

$25.7K $25.7K

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

$247 $247

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

$64.2 $64.2

$29.95 $29.95

114.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$77.5 $77.5

$59.9 $59.9

29.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$132 $132

$91.7 $91.7

43.83%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.24 $22.24

Cinema Ticket

$17.76 $17.76

$9.06 $9.06

96.03%

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

$2,872 $2,872

$1,180 $1,180

143.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$41.2K $41.2K

$16.3K $16.3K

152.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$81.2 $81.2

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.9 $54.9

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$107 $107

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$156 $156

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,768 $3,768

$2,415 $2,415

56.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,660 $2,660

$2,006 $2,006

32.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$6,137 $6,137

$5,236 $5,236

17.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,015 $5,015

$4,710 $4,710

6.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.7K $10.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$9,549 $9,549

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,663 $6,663

$1,981 $1,981

236.36%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.5

6.25

4.00%

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

Last update for San Francisco, CA: August 31, 2026

Last update for Lihue, HI: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $3,768 in San Francisco, CA and $2,415 in Lihue, HI. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

San Francisco, CA pays 236% 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: $121 in San Francisco, CA vs $112 in Lihue, HI for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $546 vs $520 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

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

Lihue, HI wins on cost – living expenses run 40% 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.

Average pay runs 236% higher in San Francisco, CA, 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: $3,768 in San Francisco, CA versus $2,415 in Lihue, HI. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $4,463 per month in San Francisco, CA versus $3,190 in Lihue, HI – a 40% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Lihue, HI runs roughly 76% 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 $3,190 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Lihue, HI hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, San Francisco, 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 40% less than in San Francisco, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.