Median rent is 11% lower in Waipahu ($1,585/mo vs $1,779/mo). Buying is cheaper in New York, where the median home runs $751,700 versus $835,400. Households earn more in Waipahu ($98,633 vs $79,713 a year).
City A
New York, NY
City B
Waipahu, HI
How much would you need to earn in Waipahu, HI to maintain your standard of living from New York, NY?
A cost-of-living index isn't available for one of these cities yet, so we can't compute an equivalent salary.
Based on BEA Regional Price Parity (cost index) for each city's metro area. A rough estimate of overall purchasing power, not tax or take-home pay.
Metric
New York
New York
Waipahu
Hawaii
👥Population
💰Median Household Income
Annual
🏠Median Gross Rent
Per month
🏡Median Home Value
📊Cost of Living Index
US avg = 100
🔑1BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🔑2BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🔑3BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🌬️Air Quality Index
Lower = cleaner
🏛️Top State Income Tax
Top marginal rate
🧾State Sales Tax
Statewide base rate
🎂Median Age
Years
✓ = better value · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation
Median rent is modestly lower in Waipahu at $1,585/mo compared to $1,779/mo in New York (11% gap). Median home values are within 10% of each other: $751,700 in New York and $835,400 in Waipahu.
1BR Fair Market Rent
2BR Fair Market Rent
BLS OEWS 2023 — metro-level data
New York's top income tax rate is 10.90% versus 11.00% in Hawaii, so New York is more tax-friendly for high earners. Sales tax is 4.00% in New York and 4.00% in Hawaii; Waipahu has the lower rate (local add-ons may apply in both).
New York
Income tax: 10.90%
Sales tax: 4.00%
Waipahu
Income tax: 11.00%
Sales tax: 4.00%
Air quality data is available for New York (avg AQI 61.0) but not yet for Waipahu.
Pick Waipahu if you prioritize higher median household income ($98,633/yr).
Pick Waipahu if you prioritize cheaper rent ($1,585/mo median).
Pick New York if you prioritize lower state income tax (10.90%).
Is New York cheaper than Waipahu?
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
How much is rent in New York vs Waipahu?
Median rent is $1,779/mo in New York, NY and $1,585/mo in Waipahu, HI. Waipahu, HI has the lower rent by about 11%.
Which has higher salaries — New York or Waipahu?
Median household income is $79,713 in New York, NY and $98,633 in Waipahu, HI. Waipahu, HI has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Which city has better air quality?
Air quality data is not yet available for one or both cities.
Which has lower taxes — New York or Waipahu?
New York's top income tax rate is 10.90% and Hawaii's is 11.00%. New York, NY has the lower rate.
What salary do I need in Waipahu to match my New York income?
RPP data needed for salary equivalence calculation is not yet available.
Data last updated: December 1, 2024 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology