Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Poipu, Hawaii
A $1,115,000 home here costs
$7,720per 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 $331,000 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $6,079. The real number is $1,641 higher every month, 27% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Kauai County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Poipu from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 1,418 residents that sample is small. The median home value here carries a much wider margin of error than a big-city figure does, so treat it as indicative rather than exact. The Kauai County figures are drawn from a far larger sample if you want a steadier number.
Where every dollar goes
Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.
Poipu against Kauai County and Hawaii
| Measure | Poipu | Kauai County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $1,115,300 | $817,900 |
| Median property tax | $3,141 | $1,840 |
| Effective tax rate | 0.282% | 0.225% |
| Median gross rent | $2,554 | $1,810 |
| Population | 1,418 | 73,610 |
The weather behind that power bill
Poipu 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 Poipu 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 Poipu 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 Poipu?
A $1,115,000 home in Poipu, Hawaii costs approximately $7,720 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $6,079 principal and interest, $262 property tax, $149 homeowners insurance, $302 utilities and $929 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Poipu?
Poipu has an effective property tax rate of 0.282%, based on a median home value of $1,115,300 and median real estate taxes of $3,141. That is higher than the Kauai County average of 0.225%.
What is the average home price in Poipu?
The median owner-occupied home value in Poipu, Hawaii is $1,115,300, against $817,900 across Kauai County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Poipu?
Median gross rent in Poipu is $2,554 a month, against $7,720 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 Poipu?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Poipu, Hawaii at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $331,000 a year. That covers the full $7,720 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Poipu, 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.