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Kahului-Wailuku, HI

Cost of living in Kalawao County, HI

Part of the Kahului Metro Area

Estimated monthly cost
$4,691/mo
for a single person, all categories combined

Population 43 · Last updated May 21, 2026

Cost breakdown

Single person, by category, per month.

Federal tax $1,451 31%
Rent $1,370 29%
State tax $531 11%
Healthcare $480 10%
Groceries $416 9%
Energy $233 5%
Transport $150 3%
Water $60 1%

Rent in Kalawao County

Fair Market Rents by bedroom count.

Studio
$1,339
per month
1 bedroom
$1,370
per month
2 bedroom
$1,797
per month
3 bedroom
$2,325
per month
4 bedroom
$2,643
per month

Source: HUD FMR FY2025

Income and earnings in Kalawao County

Annual earnings figures from the Census ACS.

Household income
$86,250
per year
Individual earnings
n/a
per year
Per capita
$39,742
per year

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year.

Home values in Kalawao County

Average values reported by homeowners.

Average home value
n/a
Annual property tax
n/a

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year

Energy costs in Kalawao County

Estimated monthly electricity and gas costs.

Electricity
$215
per month · 43¢/kWh
Natural gas
$18
per month
Annual total
$2,796
per year

Source: EIA

Healthcare in Kalawao County

Insurance premiums and coverage rates.

Individual premium
$480
per month
Family premium
$1,350
per month
Uninsured rate
2.4%

Source: ACS + national avg. Marketplace benchmark premiums are second-lowest Silver plan estimates and do not reflect employer plans, subsidies, or out-of-pocket costs. This is not healthcare advice.

Taxes in Kalawao County

State and local tax rates for Hawaii.

State income tax
11.0%
Top marginal rate
State sales tax
4.0%
Combined sales tax
4.4%
incl. average local

Tax rates change. Consult a qualified tax professional for advice on your specific situation. This is not tax advice.

Transportation in Kalawao County

Commute patterns and estimated costs.

Average commute
n/a
Drive alone
46.7%
Public transit
33.3%
Work from home
3.3%

Source: ACS

Monthly cost estimates for Kalawao County

What it costs to live in Kalawao County each month.

Single person
$4,691
per month
  • Rent $1,370
  • Energy $233
  • Water $60
  • Groceries $416
  • Transport $150
  • Healthcare $480
  • Federal tax $1,451
  • State tax $531
Couple
$5,513
per month
  • Rent $1,797
  • Energy $280
  • Water $70
  • Groceries $689
  • Transport $200
  • Healthcare $864
  • Federal tax $1,082
  • State tax $531
Family
$8,249
per month
  • Rent $2,325
  • Energy $350
  • Water $85
  • Groceries $1,046
  • Transport $280
  • Healthcare $1,350
  • Childcare $1,200
  • Federal tax $1,082
  • State tax $531

Frequently asked questions about Kalawao County

Common questions about cost of living, rent and salary.

What is the average rent in Kalawao County?

In Kalawao County, HI, a one-bedroom apartment averages $1,370 per month, a two-bedroom averages $1,797 per month, a three-bedroom averages $2,325 per month, according to HUD Fair Market Rent data.

What is the average salary in Kalawao County?

In Kalawao County, HI, the average household income is $86,250 per year, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

What is the cost of living in Kalawao County?

The estimated cost of living in Kalawao County, HI is approximately $4,691 per month for a single person, $5,513 for a couple, $8,249 for a family. This includes rent, utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, and taxes.

What is the sales tax rate in Kalawao County?

The combined sales tax rate in Kalawao County, HI is 4.44%, which includes the Hawaii state rate of 4.00% plus an average local rate of 0.44%.

Is Kalawao County an affordable place to live?

Based on the data, a single person in Kalawao County, HI would need approximately $4,691 per month to cover rent, utilities, food, transport, healthcare, and taxes. The average household income is $86,250 per year ($7,188 per month). Kalawao County has a moderate cost of living relative to local earnings.

How much does healthcare cost in Kalawao County?

The ACA marketplace benchmark premium in Kalawao County, HI is approximately $480 per month for an individual. Approximately 2.4% of residents are uninsured. Actual costs vary based on employer coverage, plan type, and individual circumstances.

How does Kalawao County compare to other areas?

You can compare Kalawao County, HI with any other US county using our comparison tool at /compare. Kalawao County is in the Kahului-Wailuku, HI metro area.

Other counties in Hawaii

Browse the full list of counties in Hawaii, ranked by cost of living.

See all counties in Hawaii

Compare Kalawao County with another area

Put two counties side by side to see how rent, taxes and everyday costs stack up.

About this data

All figures on this page come from official U.S. government sources, listed below.

  • HUD FMR FY2025
  • ACS 2019-2023 5-Year
  • EIA
  • ACS + national avg
  • ACS
  • USDA + BEA RPP
Methodology All data sources