F
70%
Overall NAT. AVG.
27%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
165%
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 Waipio Hawaii National
Cost of living170173100
Goods & Services127130100
Groceries117137100
Health care123126100
Housing265250100
Transportation135143100
Utilities151180100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Waipio, HI

Understanding the cost of living in Waipio can help future residents assess whether their current financial situation aligns with the expenses they will encounter. It enables them to plan for potential changes in their budget and lifestyle. The Waipio cost of living index is 170, which is 70% higher than the national average. The cost of living index is calculated by taking into account multiple categories, which encompass both the cost of everyday expenditures and larger expenses as well.

If you're in pursuit of an economical living environment, Waipio 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, Waipio falls within this bracket.

When it comes to the cost of living in Waipio, housing costs are a real heavyweight, often hogging a significant chunk of your earnings. Sadly, in this area, housing expenses for both buying and renting were 164.6% more expensive compared to your average city. That means you'll be shelling out more for homes, rents, mortgage rates and insurance.

Recurring essentials like haircuts, toothpaste, and entertainment, from movies to gym sessions, can really add up in your budget and make up 33% of the cost of living index. In Waipio, you you will have to spend 26.8% more than average when compared to the typical prices for these items, making it a more expensive place to live.

Groceries are getting more expensive by the day and the cost of groceries makes up 13% of the overall cost of living index. In the past two years, prices have shot up by over 10%! Unfortunately, in Waipio, it's the same story – grocery costs are 16.7% higher than what people pay across the country.

Is Waipio Affordable?

Is Waipio an affordable place to live? It's a good question and one that you might want to ask when considering any new city, as affordability can play a huge role in the decision making process. The cost of living index (which we covered above), as well as housing costs and income levels play a vital role in determining the affordability of an area. The median home price in Waipio is 193.7% higher than the national average, while the average monthly rent prices are 96.9% higher than average. The affordability of any location can also be influenced by median income levels. Waipio has a median household income of $91,458, which is 65.3% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Waipio?

Taxes: Regions that impose higher taxes, including sales and income taxes, can contribute to an increased cost of living. Higher taxes for everyday necessities such as clothing, utilities and food inevitably leads to higher expenditures. Additionally, a higher income tax rate can also play a role in elevating the overall cost of living. In Waipio, the prevailing sales tax rate starts at 4%, and income tax rates kick off at 1.4%.

Housing: High demand for housing in desirable locations can drive up property prices and rental rates. This can be a primary contributor to a higher cost of living. While low demand for housing, especially in undesirable locations, can have the reverse effect and drive prices down, resulting in a lower cost of living. The housing index in Waipio, is 164.6% higher than the national average.

Urbanization: Larger, urban areas boasting abundant amenities and robust employment prospects often exhibit a heightened cost of living, driven by the increased demand for services and residential relocation. Consequently, this leads to elevated home prices and higher rental rates. In contrast, sparsely populated rural locales or regions marked by diminished demand typically offer a more limited range of amenities and experience slower job market expansion. This translates into a more affordable cost of living.

Where is the Data From?

The Waipio 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 Waipio is 2% lower than the Hawaii average
  • The cost of living in Waipio is 70% higher than the national average
  • Waipio housing is 165% 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 Waipio

See all the best places to live around Waipio

Compare Waipio, 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$104,625$8,719$2,441$3,139
      Renters$59,025$4,919$1,377$1,771
      The affordability of the housing market in Waipio, HI as well as the overall cost of living can be predicted by what percent of the monthly income is spent on housing related costs. This is konwn as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). The overall rule of thumb is that no more than 28% of your gross income should be spent on the overall costs related to housing and no more than 36% of gross income on all expenses and debts. Among Waipio homeowners, the median income is $104,625. This indicates that a monthly maximum of $2,441 should be spent by homeowners on all housing related costs. Renters have a median income of $59,025. This indicates that renters would have a maximum of $1,377 for their rent related monthly costs.

      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 Waipio 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 Waipio 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 Waipio 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 Waipio National avg. Difference
      Home Price $542,400.00$184,700.00193.7%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $8,008.77$2,346.69241.3%
      Apartment Rent $1,869.00$949.0096.9%

      Transportation

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

      Utilities

      Item Waipio 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%
      Makaha, HI10,08714646.3%
      Nanakuli, HI11,37915049.9%
      Waipio Acres, HI5,55615757.2%
      Waimalu, HI13,71415958.8%
      Waipio, HI10,74517070.0%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Northbrook, OH10,744918.9%
      Sainte-Julienne, QC10,741n/a 
      Fairfield, AL10,7498713.1%
      Batesville, AR10,7498614.5%
      Ironton, OH10,7498415.9%
      Waipio, HI10,74517070.0%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.