CostIndexUSA

Kahului, HI vs Waterloo, IA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

HI
Kahului
109.4
overall index
$3,525/mo rent
More AffordableIA
Waterloo
87.1
overall index
$1,075/mo rent

Waterloo is significantly cheaper than Kahului — 20.4% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Kahului, you would need $63,700 in Waterloo. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing47.1%
Kahului
119.2
Waterloo
63.1
🛒 Groceries16.0%
Kahului
111.6
Waterloo
93.7
🚗 Transportation9.6%
Kahului
108
Waterloo
97.6
🏥 Healthcare9.7%
Kahului
97.8
Waterloo
88.3
Utilities56.1%
Kahului
190.6
Waterloo
83.7

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Waterloo, IA
$63,700
$16,300 less needed in Waterloo

Formula: salary × (87.1 ÷ 109.4) = salary × 0.7962. 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×

Waterloo, IA

Median Home Price
$192,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,075
Housing Index
63.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.9×

Kahului has 47.1% lower housing costs compared to Waterloo.

Income & Job Market

Kahului, HI

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

Waterloo, IA

Median Household Income
$62,400
Per Capita Income
$35,600
Unemployment Rate
3%
Population
67,470
Top Industries
ManufacturingHealthcareAgricultureRetailEducation

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)

Waterloo, IA
4.8×income-to-rent ratio

79% 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.