12 Most Affordable Places to Live in Hawaii

Hawaii offers a range of breathtaking landscapes to its residents, from golden beaches and clear blue waters, to the volcanic landscapes of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and lush forests. And with local cuisines, a relaxed lifestyle, and year-round warm climate, there are plenty of reasons that make Hawaii stand out. If you’ve been living on one of the Hawaiian islands and are ready to buy a home, you also probably have a budget you’d like to stay under. As of August, the median home sale price in Hawaii is $710,500. 

Don’t worry if that price doesn’t fit in your budget – we’ve got options to help you find a home that does. Redfin has collected 12 of the most affordable places to live in Hawaii. And the best part is that they all have a median home sale price under $710,500. From Hilo to Honolulu, read on to see what cities you may want to consider moving to.

#1: Hawaiian Paradise Park

Median home price: $417,950 
Average sale price per square foot: $324 
Median household income: $74,741 
Hawaiian Paradise Park, HI homes for sale
Hawaiian Paradise Park, HI apartments for rent

With a median home sale price of $417,950, Hawaiian Paradise Park lands the number one spot on our list as the most affordable place to live in Hawaii. Located on the island of Oahu, Hawaiian Paradise Park is home to roughly 14,900 residents. Living in Hawaiian Paradise Park, you can hike along Paradise Cliffs, take in the views at Makuʻu Point, and visit Haena Beach.

#2: Hilo

Median home price: $440,000 
Average sale price per square foot: $386 
Median household income: $70,356 
Hilo, HI homes for sale
Hilo, HI apartments for rent

Coming in as the second most affordable city to live in Hawaii is Hilo, on the east side of the Big Island, Hawaii. When living in this city of 44,200 people, you can explore the Liliʻuokalani Gardens and spend the afternoon at Hilo Bayfront Beach Park. Make sure to check out the local produce and vendors at the Hilo Farmers Market and hike through Wailuku River State Park to Rainbow Falls.

#3: ʻEwa Beach

Median home price: $470,000 
Average sale price per square foot: $506 
Median household income: $108,953 
ʻEwa Beach, HI homes for sale
ʻEwa Beach, HI apartments for rent

Next is the city of ʻEwa Beach, which has about 16,400 residents. This city on Oahu has a median home sale price of $470,000 which is about $240K less than the median home sale price in the state. If you find yourself buying a home here, be sure to have a picnic at Oneʻula Beach Park and grab a meal at a stellar local restaurant.

#4: Waimalu

Median home price: $475,000 
Average sale price per square foot: $521 
Median household income: $70,356 
Waimalu, HI homes for sale
Waimalu, HI apartments for rent

A little more expensive than ʻEwa Beach is the city of Waimalu, also on Oahu. With roughly 13,800 residents in Waimalu, make sure to bike along the Pearl Harbor Bike Trail, check out Neal S. Blaisdell Park, and have an amazing meal at one of the restaurants.

5: Waipio

Median home price: $500,000 
Average sale price per square foot: $701 
Median household income: $70,356 
Waipio, HI homes for sale
Waipio, HI apartments for rent

Another great affordable city to consider moving to is Waipio, located on Oahu. With 12,100 residents, moving to this affordable city gives you the perks of city-life without living in a major metropolitan area. Living in Waipio, you can visit the nearby Patsy T. Mink Central Oʻahu Regional Park.

#6: Aiea

Median home price: $512,000 
Average sale price per square foot: $582
Median household income: $114,359 
Aiea, HI homes for sale
Aiea, HI apartments for rent

Sixth on the list is another well-known city, Aiea, where the median home sale price is about $220K less than the state’s average. Aiea has about 10,400 residents and is a great city to consider buying a house in this year. There are lots of activities to do in this city, such as taking in the views at ʻAiea Bay State Recreation Area, hiking the ʻAiea Loop Trail, and checking out the local shops and restaurants, among many other local favorites.

#7: Honolulu

Median home price: $515,000 
Average sale price per square foot: $685 
Average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment: $1,300 
Median household income: $92,600 
Honolulu, HI homes for sale
Honolulu, HI apartments for rent

Seventh on our list of affordable places to live in Hawaii is none other than Honolulu. With a population of nearly 350,900, living in Honolulu is a great option for those looking for a bigger city to live in. Don’t miss out on visiting the iconic Waikiki Beach to see the sparkling water and golden sands, hiking to the top of Diamond Head, taking a tour of Iolani Palace, and exploring the local shops, restaurants, and sites in downtown Honolulu once moving here.

#8: Kailua-Kona

Median home price: $539,950 
Average sale price per square foot: $643 
Kailua-Kona, HI homes for sale
Kailua-Kona, HI apartments for rent

If you’ve been living in Hawaii for some time, you likely know of Kailua-Kona, located on the Big Island. Roughly 19,700 residents call this city home. Be sure to hike or mountain bike at HonuaʻUla Forest Reserve, check out the vendors at Kona Farmers Market, visit the Kailua Pier, and spend the afternoon at one of the beaches like Kailua Beach once you move to Kailua-Kona.

#9: Mililani

Median home price: $660,000 
Average sale price per square foot: $594 
Median household income: $108,192 
Mililani, HI homes for sale
Mililani, HI apartments for rent

Another great place to consider living in Hawaii is Mililani. Situated just north of Waipio on the island of Oahu, the population is about 28,100. Popular things to do in Mililani include visiting one of the neighborhood parks or grabbing a meal at an awesome local restaurant.

#10: Kapolei

Median home price: $675,000 
Average sale price per square foot: $616 
Median household income: $116,128 
Kapolei, HI homes for sale
Kapolei, HI apartments for rent

Taking the 10th spot is Kapolei, another one of the affordable places to live in Hawaii. This city has a population of 21,400, located on Oahu. You can check out the local restaurants and shops or visit one of the parks and green spaces. There’s plenty to do on an afternoon or weekend while living in Kapolei.

#11: Halawa

Median home price: $683,750
Average sale price per square foot: 556
Median household income: $98,155 
Halawa, HI homes for sale
Halawa, HI apartments for rent

The median home sale price in Halawa is $683,750, making it another great city to consider moving to this year. You’ll find there are about 15,000 residents in the Halawa area so you’ll have a smaller city-like feel without living in nearby Honolulu. If Halawa is the city for you, be sure to watch a football game at Aloha Stadium, and visit the Pearl Harbor National Memorial and USS Bowfin Submarine Museum & Park.

#12: Waianae

Median home price: $685,000
Average sale price per square foot: 521
Median household income: $71,681
Waianae, HI homes for sale
Waianae, HI apartments for rent

In the 12th spot is the city of Waianae where the median home sale price is $685,000. Waianae is located along the west side of Oahu, about 32 miles from Honolulu. There is plenty to do in Waianae like spending the day at Pokai Bay Beach or Pokai Beach, enjoying the views from Pōkaʻī Bay Beach Park, or having a meal near the waterfront.

Methodology: All cities must have over 10,000 residents per the US Census and have a median home sale price under the average median home sale price in Hawaii. Median home sale price and median sale price per square foot from the Redfin Data Center during August 2023. Average rental data from Rent.com August 2023. Population and median household income data sourced from the United States Census Bureau.

The post 12 Most Affordable Places to Live in Hawaii appeared first on Redfin | Real Estate Tips for Home Buying, Selling & More.