Rent vs. Buy in Kauai County, HI

Should you rent or buy in Kauai County? Here are the numbers.

Median Home Price

$742,900

Median Rent

$1,686/mo

Price-to-Rent Ratio

36.7x

Homeownership Rate

64.8%

Monthly Cost Comparison

Buying (20% down, 6.5% rate)

Mortgage (P&I)$3,757
Property Tax$142
Insurance$248

Total Monthly$4,147

Renting

Monthly Rent$1,686
Renter's Insurance$25

Total Monthly$1,711

In Kauai County, buying costs approximately $2,461/mo more than renting. This doesn't account for equity buildup, tax deductions, or home appreciation.

About Kauai County, Hawaii

Kauai County in Hawaii has a median household income of $88,869 and an effective property tax rate of 0.2%. With a price-to-rent ratio of 36.7x, renting may be more cost-effective in the short term.

These are starting estimates based on county-level medians. Your actual costs depend on the specific property, your credit score, down payment, and dozens of other variables. Our Monte Carlo simulation models 10,000 scenarios to give you probability-weighted answers, not single-point estimates.

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Other Counties in Hawaii

County-level data from U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 2022 5-Year Estimates. Additional sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Federal Housing Finance Agency. Estimates are based on county-level medians and may not reflect specific neighborhoods or property types. This is not financial advice — consult a licensed professional before making housing decisions.