Hawaii Living Report — October 04, 2026

For anyone dreaming of swapping snow shovels for surfboards, Hawaii offers an undeniable allure—but the reality of moving to the islands demands a clear-eyed look at the numbers. With a population of just over 1.45 million spread across six main islands, the state is a study in contrasts: breathtaking natural beauty paired with some of the highest living costs in the nation.

The housing market is where the biggest shock often lands. The median home value in Hawaii sits at $764,800, a figure that puts homeownership out of reach for many newcomers. For those renting, the median price for a one-bedroom apartment is $1,868 per month. To put that in perspective, a household earning the state’s median income of $94,814 per year—or roughly $7,901 monthly—would spend about 23.6% of its gross income on that one-bedroom. While that percentage falls within commonly accepted affordability benchmarks, the challenge is that many households earn significantly less. Indeed, the state’s poverty rate stands at 9.4%, and the 39.9 median age suggests a population that is slightly older than the national average, with many long-term residents feeling the squeeze.

The job market, however, is remarkably tight. As of August 2026, Hawaii’s unemployment rate is just 2.9%, reflecting strong demand for workers across tourism, healthcare, and professional services. Remote workers have also flocked to the islands, drawn by the lifestyle—and Finklick now tracks 91 cities in Hawaii, indicating a diversifying geographic spread beyond Honolulu. This influx has helped push median household income higher, but it has also intensified competition for housing in previously quieter areas like Hilo or Kailua-Kona.

Quality of life

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Browse utility costs, housing data, Census demographics, and climate data for all 91 tracked cities in Hawaii.

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Data: US Census Bureau ACS 2022, BLS. Updated October 04, 2026.

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