F
89%
Overall NAT. AVG.
27%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
227%
Housing NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Pearl City Hawaii National
Cost of living189173100
Goods & Services127130100
Groceries117137100
Health care123126100
Housing327250100
Transportation135143100
Utilities151180100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Pearl City, HI

Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Pearl City? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Pearl City stands at 189, making it 89% higher than the national average. The cost of living directly affects the affordability of one's desired lifestyle. Knowing the cost of housing, transportation, groceries and other essentials in the new area allows people to gauge whether they can maintain their preferred standard of living.

If you're in pursuit of an economical living environment, Pearl City may not fit the bill, as it ranks among the most expensive places to reside in the United States. Just a minority of regions exhibit a cost of living that is more than 20% higher than the national average, and, unfortunately, Pearl City falls within this bracket.

Housing costs significantly influence the Pearl City cost of living index, typically accounting for a substantial portion of one's post-tax income. Regrettably, within this particular region, expenses related to both residential ownership and renting exceeded those observed in an average city by 226.8%. This entails elements such as housing and rental prices, mortgage interest rates and insurance costs.

Recurring goods and services expenses like haircuts, toothpaste, gym memberships and movie nights are a big part of your spending and make up 33% of the cost of living index. In Pearl City, these items will cost you 26.8% more than what most folks pay, making it a bit more expensive to live here.

The substantial and relentless rise in grocery prices definitely warrants some attention. Over the past two years, grocery expenses have escalated by more than 10%. Having said that, the situation in Pearl City is even less favorable, with grocery prices here being 16.7% higher than the national average.

Is Pearl City Affordable?

Is Pearl City affordable? It's a key consideration when pondering a move, as affordability often shapes your choices. The cost of living index (we discussed it earlier), coupled with housing costs and income levels, serves as the cornerstone for determining a location's affordability. Take Pearl City, for instance, where the median home price falls 274.6% higher than the national average, and monthly rent rates are 115.4% higher than usual. Additionally, median income levels contribute to the equation, with Pearl City flaunting a median household income of $101,517, 83.5% higher than the national norm.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Pearl City?

Groceries: The costs associated with groceries have witnessed substantial increases over the past 2-3 years. In select markets, food prices have escalated by more than 20% during this timeframe, whereas others have seen more restrained upticks. The variances in food expenses can exert a considerable influence on the overall cost of living in a given locale. In Pearl City, the groceries index is 16.7% higher than the national average.

Utilities: Similar to the prices of any other goods or services, utility expenditures can exhibit substantial variability, influenced by factors such as climate, energy sources accessibility, geographical location and state regulations. Costs related to electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can fluctuate, whether higher or lower, contingent on the city or state. In Pearl City, the utilities index is 51.3% higher than the national average.

Housing: When everyone's vying for homes in popular areas, it drives up property prices and rents, making the overall cost of living surge. On the flip side, in less sought-after locales, where housing demand is low, prices tend to dip, resulting in a more economical cost of living. In Pearl City, the housing index comes in at 226.8% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Pearl City cost of living data displayed above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index to provide a useful and reasonably accurate measure of living cost differences in urban areas. Published on a quarterly basis, it compiles data from more than 300 independent researchers, encompassing over 60 goods and services. These items have been meticulously selected to represent various consumer expenditure categories, in 6 categories. Weightings assigned to cost differentials draw from government survey data tracking spending patterns among professional and executive households. While the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, AreaVibes incorporates tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each region.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Pearl City is 9% higher than the Hawaii average
  • The cost of living in Pearl City is 89% higher than the national average
  • Pearl City housing is 227% higher than the national average
  • Hawaii general sales tax is 22% lower than the national average
  • Hawaii state income tax is 46% lower than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Pearl City

See all the best places to live around Pearl City

Compare Pearl City, HI Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

      This is how much you would need to earn in
      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$116,879$9,740$2,727$3,507
      Renters$69,202$5,767$1,615$2,076
      To approximate the cost of living and the housing affordability in Pearl City, HI, we can look at the percentage of income that is available to be spent on monthly housing, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). To stay on the safe side, a consumer should not spend more than 28% of his or her gross income on housing-related expenses and costs and not more than 36% of income on all expenses and debts. Homeowners in Pearl City have a median income of $116,879. Therefore, the amount that a consumer should spend on housing costs should be no more than $2,727 per month to avoid calamity and poverty. The renters in the city have an income of about $69,202, which would make their monthly maximum allowable rental costs $1,615.

      Hawaii Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      Hawaii 4% 4.712%

      Hawaii Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      Hawaii 1.4% 11%

      Goods & Services

      Item Pearl City National avg. Difference
      Haircut $19.47$24.2619.8%
      Beauty Salon $76.67$45.5668.3%
      Toothpaste $3.68$3.700.6%
      Shampoo $1.73$1.2834.8%
      Movie $15.08$12.1324.3%
      Bowling $25.33$18.0040.7%

      Groceries

      Item Pearl City National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.42$5.847.2%
      Fried Chicken $2.85$1.5781.0%
      Milk $5.38$4.6715.1%
      Potatoes $5.94$4.9320.4%
      Pizza $14.99$12.0924.0%
      Beer $12.01$10.4115.4%

      Health Care

      Item Pearl City National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $236.67$125.6888.3%
      Doctor $191.36$135.7840.9%
      Dentist $114.44$113.291.0%
      Ibuprofen $11.35$10.656.6%
      Lipitor $573.90$468.6022.5%

      Housing

      Item Pearl City National avg. Difference
      Home Price $691,900.00$184,700.00274.6%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $8,008.77$2,346.69241.3%
      Apartment Rent $2,044.00$949.00115.4%

      Transportation

      Item Pearl City National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $4.80$3.4638.8%
      Tire Balancing $75.37$59.9225.8%

      Utilities

      Item Pearl City National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $359.53$193.9985.3%
      Phone $184.47$192.254.0%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Waianae, HI13,19214545.1%
      Kailua CDP (Hawaii County), HI13,61714848.1%
      Nanakuli, HI11,37915049.9%
      Waipio Acres, HI5,55615757.2%
      Waimalu, HI13,71415958.8%
      Pearl City, HI45,15918988.6%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Rockwall, TX45,16812221.8%
      Cleveland, TN45,115928.5%
      Lake Ridge, VA45,11113434.3%
      Herriman, UT45,21113232.3%
      Hilo, HI45,24815554.9%
      Pearl City, HI45,15918988.6%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.