Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Lihue, Hawaii
A $844,000 home here costs
$5,880per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.24% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $252,000 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $4,601. The real number is $1,278 higher every month, 28% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Kauai County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Where every dollar goes
Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.
Lihue against Kauai County and Hawaii
| Measure | Lihue | Kauai County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $843,900 | $817,900 |
| Median property tax | $1,935 | $1,840 |
| Effective tax rate | 0.229% | 0.225% |
| Median gross rent | $1,989 | $1,810 |
| Population | 7,847 | 73,610 |
The weather behind that power bill
Lihue sits in Kauai County, which averages a high of 87.5°F in its hottest month and a low of 64.4°F in its coldest, with 17.84" of precipitation a year and 45% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 4,056 cooling and 0 heating degree days, which is what sets the $234 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Kauai County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Kauai County
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Lihue averages. What one specific house costs to own, or what it would sell for today, depends on the street and the condition of the place. We will connect you with one licensed local agent who works Lihue every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Lihue?
A $844,000 home in Lihue, Hawaii costs approximately $5,880 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $4,601 principal and interest, $161 property tax, $113 homeowners insurance, $302 utilities and $703 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Lihue?
Lihue has an effective property tax rate of 0.229%, based on a median home value of $843,900 and median real estate taxes of $1,935. That is in line with the Kauai County average of 0.225%.
What is the average home price in Lihue?
The median owner-occupied home value in Lihue, Hawaii is $843,900, against $817,900 across Kauai County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Lihue?
Median gross rent in Lihue is $1,989 a month, against $5,880 to own the median home all in. Renting costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.
What salary do you need to buy a home in Lihue?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Lihue, Hawaii at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $252,000 a year. That covers the full $5,880 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Lihue, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
- Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Hawaii.
- Electricity price, EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A.
- Mortgage rate, Freddie Mac PMMS, refreshed weekly.
- Maintenance (1%/yr) and water and sewer ($68/mo) are national estimates. Every assumption above is editable.