Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Waipahu, HI Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Waipahu, HI

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,604 in Seattle, WA versus $3,170 in Waipahu, HI.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,549 in Seattle, WA versus $4,781 in Waipahu, HI.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,494 in Seattle, WA versus $6,392 in Waipahu, HI.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 14% more expensive than in Waipahu, HI, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 170% above, Waipahu, HI 137% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.78 $24.78

$23.30 $23.30

6.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$122 $122

$101 $101

20.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.02 $14.02

$15.07 $15.07

-6.97%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$6.64 $6.64

-16.27%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$3.67 $3.67

-16.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.39 $2.39

$2.75 $2.75

-13.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.94 $7.94

$7.86 $7.86

1.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.09 $8.09

$9.09 $9.09

-11.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 $1.38

$1.34 $1.34

2.99%

White Bread (500g)

$4.95 $4.95

$6.79 $6.79

-27.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.35 $5.35

$10.38 $10.38

-48.46%

Eggs

$6.59 $6.59

$7.61 $7.61

-13.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.87 $24.87

$12.29 $12.29

102.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.92 $15.92

$18.81 $18.81

-15.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.21 $20.21

$19.56 $19.56

3.32%

Apples (1kg)

$6.17 $6.17

$7.06 $7.06

-12.61%

Banana (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$1.48 $1.48

86.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$6.66 $6.66

-19.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.52 $6.52

$8.28 $8.28

-21.26%

Potato (1kg)

$3.21 $3.21

$5.20 $5.20

-38.27%

Onion (1kg)

$3.75 $3.75

$4.52 $4.52

-17.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.84 $2.84

$4.86 $4.86

-41.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$3.03 $3.03

-13.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.69 $11.69

$9.98 $9.98

17.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.46 $15.46

$18.06 $18.06

-14.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.83 $2.83

$2.42 $2.42

16.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.25 $4.25

$5.84 $5.84

-27.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.04 $2.04

35.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$97.8 $97.8

$78.5 $78.5

24.58%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$3.54 $3.54

-26.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$2.66 $2.66

-37.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.77 $29.77

$44.45 $44.45

-33.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$1.28 $1.28

-10.94%

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

$33.1K $33.1K

$29.9K $29.9K

10.99%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$24.9K $24.9K

4.01%

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

$270 $270

$238 $238

13.14%

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

$59.7 $59.7

$65.1 $65.1

-8.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.3 $74.3

$66.3 $66.3

12.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.7 $77.7

$43.02 $43.02

80.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$41.03 $41.03

Cinema Ticket

$15.78 $15.78

$15.74 $15.74

0.25%

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

$2,279 $2,279

$1,520 $1,520

49.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.8K $29.8K

$20.1K $20.1K

48.56%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.8 $69.8

$45.57 $45.57

53.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.3 $52.3

$40.35 $40.35

29.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$96.9 $96.9

21.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$125 $125

14.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,332 $2,332

$1,619 $1,619

44.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,899 $1,899

$1,474 $1,474

28.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,756 $4,756

$2,895 $2,895

64.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,472 $3,472

$2,619 $2,619

32.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,709 $7,709

$2,483 $2,483

210.46%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,983 $4,983

$2,121 $2,121

134.89%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,641 $6,641

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.59

-2.58%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: July 19, 2026

Last update for Waipahu, HI: July 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,332 in Seattle, WA and $1,619 in Waipahu, HI. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $122 in Seattle, WA vs $101 in Waipahu, HI. Groceries flip the comparison at $541 vs $595, with Seattle, WA 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

Seattle, WA vs Waipahu, HI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Waipahu, HI is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 14% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $5,407 in Seattle, WA and $4,754 in Waipahu, HI to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,332 in Seattle, WA versus $1,619 in Waipahu, HI. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Waipahu, HI – a meal for two runs $101 versus $122 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,604 per month in Seattle, WA versus $3,170 in Waipahu, HI – a 14% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Waipahu, HI is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

For families, Waipahu, HI is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Seattle, WA, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Waipahu, HI gentler on the wallet – expenses run 14% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.