States › Hawaii › Waikele

Is Waikele, HI expensive to live in?

OKRent takes 22 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$2,37335% higher than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$129,986about $10,832/month · 49% higher than U.S. average
🔑 House price$704,700112% higher than U.S. average

Rent is higher than in 82% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 5.4 years of household income.

How much money do I need?

To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $94,920 a year. That is $46 an hour at a full-time job.

Is rent cheaper than other Hawaii cities?

Yes. Rent here is cheaper than in most of Hawaii. It is number 26 of 57 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

Waikele
$2,373
Waikoloa Village
$2,071
East Kapolei
$3,500+
Ewa Villages
$353
Makawao
$2,023
Napili-Honokowai
$2,341
Lihue
$2,575

How much do households earn in Waikele?

Under $25k
3.7%
$25k–50k
10.5%
$50k–100k
35.2%
$100k–150k
31.6%
$150k+
16.5%

Share of households by yearly income. 48.1% of households earn $100,000 or more.

Rent by apartment size in Waikele

SizeWaikeleU.S. average
2 bedrooms$2,592$1,509
3 bedrooms$3,044$1,698
4 bedrooms$3,500+$2,098

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

How expensive is Waikele 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 Waikele, so the Hawaii figure is shown.

Taxes and bills in Waikele

🏛️ Property tax$2,060a year · 0.29% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$191a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in Waikele

Commute to work26.4 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree39.2%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home71%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line3.7%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment1.3%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Waikele?

Renting is cheaper right now: about $2,517 a month less.

Renting
$2,373
Owning
$4,890

Owning assumes a typical $704,700 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $70,470 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in Waikele, HI?

Renting in Waikele costs a median of about $2,373 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Hawaii median is $2,544.

How much do I need to make to live in Waikele?

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $94,920 a year, or $46 an hour at a full-time job.

Is Waikele cheap or expensive?

Waikele is rated OK: rent takes 21.9% of the typical household income of $129,986. It ranks 26th cheapest of 57 Hawaii cities we track.

How much are property taxes in Waikele?

The median homeowner in Waikele pays $2,060 a year in property taxes, about 0.29% of the median home value.

Is Waikele 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 Waikele?

The median home value in Waikele is $704,700, about 5.4 times the typical yearly household income.

7,528 people live in Waikele. Numbers are typical (middle) values.