States › Hawaii › Haiku-Pauwela

Is Haiku-Pauwela, HI expensive to live in?

ExpensiveRent takes 38 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$3,500+100% higher than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$109,356about $9,113/month · 26% higher than U.S. average
🔑 House price$1,093,800229% higher than U.S. average

Rent here is among the highest 10% in the country. A typical house costs about 10.0 years of household income, so buying is hard for most locals. Commutes are long, about 32.2 minutes each way.

How much money do I need?

To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $140,040 a year. That is $67 an hour at a full-time job.

Is rent cheaper than other Hawaii cities?

No. Rent here is more expensive than in most of Hawaii. It is number 52 of 57 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

Haiku-Pauwela
$3,500+
Aiea
$3,439
Waimea
$1,980
Hickam Housing
$3,500+
Pukalani
$1,998
Ahuimanu
$2,794
Makaha
$1,971

How much do households earn in Haiku-Pauwela?

Under $25k
8.7%
$25k–50k
10.4%
$50k–100k
45.2%
$100k–150k
16.2%
$150k+
14.6%

Share of households by yearly income. 30.7% of households earn $100,000 or more.

Rent by apartment size in Haiku-Pauwela

SizeHaiku-PauwelaU.S. average
1 bedroom$1,494$1,324
2 bedrooms$2,036$1,509
3 bedrooms$3,312$1,698

Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.

How expensive is Haiku-Pauwela overall?

Everyday prices in Hawaii overall are 10% above the U.S. average (index 110.0, U.S. = 100).

Housing
125
Goods (food, clothes…)
112
Utilities
190
Other services
103
U.S. average
100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Haiku-Pauwela, so the Hawaii figure is shown.

Taxes and bills in Haiku-Pauwela

🏛️ Property tax$1,863a year · 0.17% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$240a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in Haiku-Pauwela

Commute to work32.2 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree33.7%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home66.6%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line8.3%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment5.7%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Haiku-Pauwela?

Renting is cheaper right now: about $4,088 a month less.

Renting
$3,500+
Owning
$7,589

Owning assumes a typical $1,093,800 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $109,380 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in Haiku-Pauwela, HI?

Renting in Haiku-Pauwela costs a median of about $3,500+ a month in 2026, including utilities. The Hawaii median is $2,544.

How much do I need to make to live in Haiku-Pauwela?

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $140,040 a year, or $67 an hour at a full-time job.

Is Haiku-Pauwela cheap or expensive?

Haiku-Pauwela is rated Expensive: rent takes 38.4% of the typical household income of $109,356. It ranks 52nd cheapest of 57 Hawaii cities we track.

How much are property taxes in Haiku-Pauwela?

The median homeowner in Haiku-Pauwela pays $1,863 a year in property taxes, about 0.17% of the median home value.

Is Haiku-Pauwela more expensive than the national average?

Overall prices in Hawaii are 10% above the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

How much does a house cost in Haiku-Pauwela?

The median home value in Haiku-Pauwela is $1,093,800, about 10.0 times the typical yearly household income.

9,178 people live in Haiku-Pauwela. Numbers are typical (middle) values.