CostIndexUSA

Iowa City, IA vs Kahului, HI Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableIA
Iowa City
91.5
overall index
$1,300/mo rent
HI
Kahului
109.4
overall index
$3,525/mo rent

Iowa City is significantly cheaper than Kahului — 19.6% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Iowa City, you would need $95,600 in Kahului. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing+41.9%
Iowa City
84
Kahului
119.2
🛒 Groceries+19.1%
Iowa City
93.7
Kahului
111.6
🚗 Transportation+10.7%
Iowa City
97.6
Kahului
108
🏥 Healthcare+10.8%
Iowa City
88.3
Kahului
97.8
Utilities+127.7%
Iowa City
83.7
Kahului
190.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Iowa City to see what you'd need to earn in Kahului to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Kahului, HI
$95,600
$15,600 more needed in Kahului

Formula: salary × (109.4 ÷ 91.5) = salary × 1.1956. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Iowa City, IA

Median Home Price
$287,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,300
Housing Index
84
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.4×

Kahului, HI

Median Home Price
$989,000
Median Monthly Rent
$3,525
Housing Index
119.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
23.4×

Kahului has 41.9% higher housing costs compared to Iowa City.

Income & Job Market

Iowa City, IA

Median Household Income
$71,900
Per Capita Income
$41,000
Unemployment Rate
2.3%
Population
74,398
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareTechnologyResearchGovernment

Kahului, HI

Median Household Income
$83,700
Per Capita Income
$47,700
Unemployment Rate
3%
Population
26,337
Top Industries
TourismHealthcareRetailAgricultureGovernment

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Iowa City, IA
4.6×income-to-rent ratio

78% of income left after rent (median)

Kahului, HI
2.0×income-to-rent ratio

49% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.