CostIndexUSA

Kahului, HI vs Monroe, LA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

HI
Kahului
109.4
overall index
$3,525/mo rent
More AffordableLA
Monroe
83.6
overall index
$1,100/mo rent

Monroe is significantly cheaper than Kahului — 23.6% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Kahului, you would need $61,100 in Monroe. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing−64.1%
Kahului
119.2
Monroe
42.8
🛒 Groceries−16.0%
Kahului
111.6
Monroe
93.7
🚗 Transportation−6.9%
Kahului
108
Monroe
100.5
🏥 Healthcare−7.1%
Kahului
97.8
Monroe
90.9
⚡ Utilities−62.1%
Kahului
190.6
Monroe
72.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
→
Equivalent salary in Monroe, LA
$61,100
$18,900 less needed in Monroe

Formula: salary × (83.6 ÷ 109.4) = salary × 0.7642. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Kahului, HI

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

Monroe, LA

Median Home Price
$157,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,100
Housing Index
42.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
11.9×

Kahului has 64.1% lower housing costs compared to Monroe.

Income & Job Market

Kahului, HI

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

Monroe, LA

Median Household Income
$50,300
Per Capita Income
$28,700
Unemployment Rate
7.3%
Population
47,252
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationManufacturingGovernmentRetail

Affordability at a Glance

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

Kahului, HI
2.0×income-to-rent ratio

49% of income left after rent (median)

Monroe, LA
3.8×income-to-rent ratio

74% of income left after rent (median)

Kahului vs other cities

Kahului, HI
vs
Honolulu, HI
Index: 109.4Index: 100
Kahului, HI
vs
Naples, FL
Index: 109.4Index: 103.2
Kahului, HI
vs
Morgantown, WV
Index: 109.4Index: 93.3
Kahului, HI
vs
Bangor, ME
Index: 109.4Index: 96.5
Kahului, HI
vs
Wenatchee, WA
Index: 109.4Index: 103.9

Monroe vs other cities

Monroe, LA
vs
Baton Rouge, LA
Index: 83.6Index: 90.8
Monroe, LA
vs
Lafayette, LA
Index: 83.6Index: 87.2
Monroe, LA
vs
Lake Charles, LA
Index: 83.6Index: 85.9
Monroe, LA
vs
Charleston, WV
Index: 83.6Index: 88.7
Monroe, LA
vs
San Luis Obispo, CA
Index: 83.6Index: 108.6

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.