Cost of Living in Makaha, HI
Cost of Living in Makaha, HI has an overall index of 116, 16% above the U.S. baseline of 100. The typical home value is $416,100; typical monthly rent is $1,871; and median household income is $63,291.
Cost index: committed city housing/rent inputs and BEA 2024 state nonmetro price parities. Home value: Census ACS 2023 fallback place estimate. Rent: Census ACS 2023 fallback place estimate. A place-level signal, not a personal affordability decision or financial recommendation.
Home prices are the main source of pressure. This describes the local market, not your household.
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Frequently asked questions about Makaha
Living in Makaha
Is Makaha, HI an expensive place to live?+
Yes — Makaha is about 16% more expensive than the national average, with an overall Cost Index of 116. Housing is the biggest factor: the typical home here is valued around $416,100, and monthly rents average roughly $1,871. Day-to-day costs like groceries and utilities tend to run closer to the national norm.
How does Makaha fit a household housing budget?+
Start with housing. Typical monthly rent is $1,871, while local median household income is $63,291. That implies a rent-burden proxy of about 35% before utilities and other costs. Use that as a planning signal for whether the place looks manageable under your own household assumptions.
How much are taxes in Makaha, HI?+
Hawaii uses an approximate state-income-tax planning model; 11% is top marginal-rate context from the tax snapshot. Applying the 0.28% state-level effective owner-occupied proxy to a home worth $416,100 gives a planning estimate near $1,165 per year; it is not a city, county, parcel, or individual tax bill. State plus average local sales-tax context is around 4.44%.
How much does it cost to rent in Makaha, HI?+
The typical monthly rent in Makaha is around $1,871. That's about 39% higher than the $1,348 national median. For comparison, the median home value here is $416,100, so buyers should also factor in mortgage payments, property taxes, and insurance.
How much does a house cost in Makaha, HI?+
The typical home value in Makaha is $416,100. With 20% down and the committed 6.11% national 30-year fixed benchmark as of 2026-03-12, principal and interest are roughly $2,019/month before property tax and insurance. This is a planning estimate, not a local lender quote. About 41% of residents here own their homes.
Are groceries and utilities expensive in Makaha?+
Grocery prices in Makaha are about average compared to the rest of the US (index: 96, where 100 is the national average). Utility bills (electricity, gas, water) are below average (index: 88). Overall, these everyday costs shouldn't cause major surprises if you're moving from another similarly-sized US city.
What is Makaha, HI like to live in?+
Makaha is a small town with a population of about 9,898. The median age of residents is 37.1, which is close to the national median. The local poverty rate is 25.22%, above the national average of 12.4%.
