An Overview of Cost of Living in Ewa Beach, HI
Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Ewa Beach? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Ewa Beach stands at 175, making it 75% higher than the national average. The cost of living directly affects the affordability of one's desired lifestyle. Knowing the cost of housing, transportation, groceries and other essentials in the new area allows people to gauge whether they can maintain their preferred standard of living.
If you prioritize affordability when seeking a new place to live, Ewa Beach may not be your ideal choice, as it ranks among the most expensive locations in the entire United States. A very small amount of areas exhibit a cost of living at least 20% higher than the national average, and unfortunately, Ewa Beach falls into this category, which may not align with your preferences for a budget-friendly living environment.
Housing costs are a major factor in the Ewa Beach cost of living index, and they often eat up a big chunk of your take-home pay. Unfortunately, in this area, housing expenses for both homeownership and rentals were 180.1% higher than what's typical in an average city. That includes the prices of homes and rents, as well as mortgage rates and insurance.
Everyday goods and services make up 33% of the cost of living index and include things like clothing, personal hygiene products and entertainment which are a large portion of your monthly expenditures. Unfortunately, Ewa Beach goods and services are 26.8% more expensive than the national average, leaving you with less money at the end of the month.
Groceries are getting more expensive by the day and the cost of groceries makes up 13% of the overall cost of living index. In the past two years, prices have shot up by over 10%! Unfortunately, in Ewa Beach, it's the same story – grocery costs are 16.7% higher than what people pay across the country.
Is Ewa Beach Affordable?
Is Ewa Beach an affordable place to live? That's a valid question to ask when you're thinking about moving to a new city. After all, how much it costs to live somewhere can be a huge factor in your decision. Affordability can be broken down into 3 common categories. The cost of living index (we talked about it earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a big role in figuring out if a place is affordable. For instance, in Ewa Beach, the median home price is 214.6% higher than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 99.6% higher than the usual rates. Income levels in Ewa Beach come in at $97,118, which is 75.6% higher than the national average.
What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Ewa Beach?
Taxes: Cities that impose higher taxes, including sales and income taxes, can contribute to an escalated cost of living. The added expense of taxes on everyday goods like clothing and food naturally results in higher overall costs. Similarly, a higher income tax rate can further elevate the cost of living. In Ewa Beach, the general sales tax rate starts at 4%, and income tax rates begin at 1.4%.
Housing: A sought-after location with high housing demand often leads to increased property values and rental rates, which can significantly inflate the overall cost of living. Conversely, areas with low housing demand, particularly in less desirable locales, tend to experience the opposite effect, causing prices to drop and contributing to a more affordable cost of living. In Ewa Beach, the housing index stands at 180.1% higher than the national average.
Utilities: Like everything else, utilities costs can range significantly depending on factors like climate, energy sources available, location and even state regulations. Things like electricity, water, heating and waste disposal costs can be higher or lower, depending on the city or state. The utilities index in Ewa Beach comes in at 51.3% higher than the national average.
Where is the Data From?
The Ewa Beach cost of living data you see above is sourced from the C2ER cost of living index, providing a practical and accurate means of comparing living expenses in urban areas. Updated quarterly, this index gathers data from over 300 independent researchers, covering more than 60 goods and services, in 6 different categories. These selections are made meticulously to represent a wide range of consumer expenditure categories. The weightings applied to cost differences are based on government survey data that tracks spending patterns among professional and executive households. It's important to note that while the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, AreaVibes factors tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each region.