salaryRent here is among the highest 10% in the country. Household incomes are higher than in 92% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 8.4 years of household income, so buying is hard for most locals. It is a highly educated city: 55.5% of adults have a college degree.
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 49 of 57 cities from cheapest to most expensive.
How much do households earn in Kailua?
Share of households by yearly income. 57.8% of households earn $100,000 or more.
Rent by apartment size in Kailua
| Size | Kailua | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,994 | $1,338 |
| 1 bedroom | $2,362 | $1,324 |
| 2 bedrooms | $3,066 | $1,509 |
| 3 bedrooms | $3,500+ | $1,698 |
| 4 bedrooms | $3,500+ | $2,098 |
Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.
How expensive is Kailua overall?
Everyday prices in Hawaii overall are 10% above the U.S. average (index 110.0, U.S. = 100).
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Kailua, so the Hawaii figure is shown.
Taxes and bills in Kailua
Life in Kailua
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Kailua?
Renting is cheaper right now: about $5,892 a month less.
Owning assumes a typical $1,353,700 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $135,370 for the down payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Kailua, HI?
Renting in Kailua 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 Kailua?
To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $140,040 a year, or $67 an hour at a full-time job.
Is Kailua cheap or expensive?
Kailua is rated OK: rent takes 26.2% of the typical household income of $160,246. It ranks 49th cheapest of 57 Hawaii cities we track.
How much are property taxes in Kailua?
The median homeowner in Kailua pays $3,970 a year in property taxes, about 0.29% of the median home value.
Is Kailua 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 Kailua?
The median home value in Kailua is $1,353,700, about 8.4 times the typical yearly household income.
39,640 people live in Kailua. Numbers are typical (middle) values.