CostIndexUSA

Kahului, HI vs Salem, OR Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

HI
Kahului
109.4
overall index
$3,525/mo rent
More AffordableOR
Salem
103.6
overall index
$1,675/mo rent

Salem is moderately cheaper than Kahului — 5.3% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Kahului, you would need $75,800 in Salem. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing7.5%
Kahului
119.2
Salem
110.3
🛒 Groceries5.6%
Kahului
111.6
Salem
105.3
🚗 Transportation2.5%
Kahului
108
Salem
105.3
🏥 Healthcare2.6%
Kahului
97.8
Salem
95.3
Utilities45.1%
Kahului
190.6
Salem
104.7

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Salem, OR
$75,800
$4,200 less needed in Salem

Formula: salary × (103.6 ÷ 109.4) = salary × 0.9470. 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×

Salem, OR

Median Home Price
$442,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,675
Housing Index
110.3
Price-to-Rent Ratio
22.0×

Kahului has 7.5% lower housing costs compared to Salem.

Income & Job Market

Kahului, HI

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

Salem, OR

Median Household Income
$74,600
Per Capita Income
$42,500
Unemployment Rate
5.1%
Population
174,365
Top Industries
GovernmentHealthcareManufacturingRetailAgriculture

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)

Salem, OR
3.7×income-to-rent ratio

73% 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.