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: $3,598 in Seattle, WA versus $3,102 in Waipahu, HI.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,539 in Seattle, WA versus $4,775 in Waipahu, HI.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,479 in Seattle, WA versus $6,448 in Waipahu, HI.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 16% more expensive than Waipahu, HI, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 168% above, Waipahu, HI 132% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.80 $24.80

$23.93 $23.93

3.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$98.3 $98.3

19.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.77 $13.77

$15.26 $15.26

-9.76%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$6.70 $6.70

-14.78%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$3.65 $3.65

-16.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$2.72 $2.72

-8.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$8.17 $8.17

-4.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$8.76 $8.76

-10.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 $1.35

White Bread (500g)

$5.06 $5.06

$6.69 $6.69

-24.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$10.16 $10.16

-46.95%

Eggs

$6.85 $6.85

$7.59 $7.59

-9.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.07 $25.07

$12.38 $12.38

102.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.85 $15.85

$19.36 $19.36

-18.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.59 $20.59

$19.69 $19.69

4.57%

Apples (1kg)

$6.14 $6.14

$6.79 $6.79

-9.57%

Banana (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.51 $1.51

86.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.51 $5.51

$6.64 $6.64

-17.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.74 $6.74

$8.37 $8.37

-19.47%

Potato (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$5.03 $5.03

-37.38%

Onion (1kg)

$3.82 $3.82

$4.46 $4.46

-14.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.69 $2.69

$4.73 $4.73

-43.13%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.64 $2.64

$3.08 $3.08

-14.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.65 $11.65

$10.03 $10.03

16.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.69 $15.69

$19.71 $19.71

-20.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.93 $2.93

$2.54 $2.54

15.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.24 $4.24

$5.78 $5.78

-26.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.82 $2.82

$2.06 $2.06

36.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$100 $100

$79.6 $79.6

25.84%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$3.56 $3.56

-26.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$2.68 $2.68

-35.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.22 $30.22

$44.84 $44.84

-32.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 $1.19

$1.22 $1.22

-2.46%

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

$32.7K $32.7K

$29.6K $29.6K

10.45%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$24.5K $24.5K

6.61%

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

$263 $263

$239 $239

9.95%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$65.1 $65.1

-6.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.9 $75.9

$67.5 $67.5

12.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.6 $79.6

$42.51 $42.51

87.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.89 $39.89

Cinema Ticket

$16.27 $16.27

$16.03 $16.03

1.50%

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

$2,281 $2,281

$1,477 $1,477

54.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.3K $29.3K

$20.7K $20.7K

41.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.6 $68.6

$44.84 $44.84

53.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 $52.0

$39.74 $39.74

30.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

$93.8 $93.8

23.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$125 $125

14.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,336 $2,336

$1,625 $1,625

43.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,863 $1,863

$1,476 $1,476

26.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,628 $4,628

$2,801 $2,801

65.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,477 $3,477

$2,648 $2,648

31.30%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,766 $7,766

$2,686 $2,686

189.15%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,232 $5,232

$2,705 $2,705

93.46%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,617 $6,617

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Waipahu, HI: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,336 in Seattle, WA and $1,625 in Waipahu, HI. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $118 in Seattle, WA vs $98.0 in Waipahu, HI. Groceries flip the comparison at $547 vs $600, 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 16% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $5,397 in Seattle, WA and $4,654 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: $2,336 in Seattle, WA versus $1,625 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 $98.0 versus $118 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,598 per month in Seattle, WA versus $3,102 in Waipahu, HI – a 16% 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 16% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.