By Benjamin Finnerty (S), REALTOR® (RS-83812) with Keller Williams Realty Maui · Kīhei, Maui · 808-481-9748

Quick Answer: Maui’s cost of living is high, driven by housing, transportation and food. MIT’s Living Wage Calculator (February 2026) puts the need for one adult with no children in Maui County at about $68,816 a year before taxes. Gas averaged $5.71 a gallon in Kahului on October 1, 2026, and the countywide median home price was $1,150,000 in September 2026.

I’m Benjamin Finnerty, a REALTOR® in Kīhei with Keller Williams Realty Maui, and the most useful thing I can tell anyone moving to Maui is to build a realistic budget before you start house hunting. Here’s what everyday costs look like right now, using current numbers from primary sources, and how I’d think about them if you’re planning a move.

How Much Income Do You Need to Live on Maui?

MIT estimates one adult with no children in Maui County needs about $68,816 a year before taxes, or $33.08 an hour, to cover basic costs as of February 2026. MIT’s Living Wage Calculator estimates what it costs to cover basic needs (housing, food, childcare, transportation, health care and taxes) without public assistance. For Maui County, the February 2026 figures are:

Household	Hourly living wage	Annual income needed (before taxes)
1 adult, no children	$33.08	$68,816
2 adults (1 working), no children	$42.96	$89,347
2 adults (both working), 2 children	$37.45 per adult	$155,806

These are baseline budgets, not comfortable ones. They don’t include savings, travel to the mainland, or the higher housing costs of buying rather than renting.

What Are the Biggest Expenses on Maui?

Housing is the largest line in the budget, followed by transportation. MIT’s estimated annual costs for Maui County (February 2026) show where the money goes:

Annual cost	1 adult, no children	2 adults, 2 children
Housing	$22,869	$31,650
Transportation	$11,930	$17,391
Food	$6,181	$13,585
Medical	$2,367	$8,874

Transportation is higher than many newcomers expect, because most of Maui is car-dependent and fuel costs more here.

How Much Does Gas Cost on Maui?

Regular gas averaged $5.71 a gallon in Kahului on October 1, 2026, according to AAA Hawaiʻi as reported by Maui Now. The statewide average was $5.62 and the national average was $4.41. Hawaiʻi’s average was up $1.14 from a year earlier and ranked second-highest in the country, behind California.

If you plan to commute from Upcountry or West Maui to Central Maui, fuel deserves its own line in your budget.

What Sales Tax Will I Pay on Maui?

Maui County’s general excise tax (GET) is 4.5%. Hawaiʻi doesn’t have a traditional sales tax; instead, the GET is charged to businesses and usually passed on to customers. Since January 1, 2024, Maui County has added a 0.5% surcharge to the state’s 4% rate. Businesses can visibly pass on up to 4.712% to cover the tax on the tax, and the county surcharge is scheduled to run through December 31, 2030.

GET applies to most goods and services, including many services that aren’t taxed in other states, so it adds up across a household budget.

What Does Housing Cost on Maui Right Now?

The Maui County median single-family home price was $1,150,000 in September 2026, down 11.0% from a year earlier, according to the REALTORS® Association of Maui. The condo median was $660,000. Year to date through September 2026, the medians are $1,219,000 for single-family homes and $655,000 for condos.

Financing is part of the picture too. Freddie Mac’s weekly survey put the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate at 7.28% on October 1, 2026. On top of the mortgage, Maui owners budget for property tax, homeowners or condo association insurance, association fees for condos, and utilities. Electricity is one of the bigger monthly bills on the island, so it’s worth asking a seller for recent utility costs or looking at homes with solar.

My Take: What I’m Telling People Moving to Maui

Start with the MIT numbers as a floor, not a target. If the baseline for one adult is $68,816 before taxes, a budget that includes savings, trips to the mainland and owning rather than renting will need room above that.

A few strategies I suggest for anyone relocating:

• Rent first. Spending a few months on the island before you buy lets you learn the areas, commute times and microclimates.
• Live close to where you work. Cutting a long daily drive saves real money at more than $5 a gallon.
• Look at condos and smaller homes. With condo prices down and inventory up, buyers have more negotiating room in 2026.
• Consider solar and efficiency. Lower utility bills make a noticeable difference over a year.
• Apply for the home exemption. If you buy a home you live in, Maui’s homeowner exemption and owner-occupied tax rates can lower your property tax.

When you’re ready to buy, run the full monthly picture, mortgage at today’s rates plus property tax, insurance, association fees and utilities, before you fall for a listing.

This is general information, not tax advice. Please confirm your situation with a CPA.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is gas more expensive on Maui than elsewhere in Hawaiʻi?

On October 1, 2026, AAA’s Kahului average ($5.71) was a little above the statewide average ($5.62) and well above the national average ($4.41).

How much does a single person need to live on Maui?

MIT estimates about $68,816 a year before taxes for one adult with no children, as of February 2026.

What is the sales tax on Maui?

The general excise tax is 4.5% in Maui County, including a 0.5% county surcharge that runs through 2030.

What is the median home price on Maui?

The REALTORS® Association of Maui reports a Maui County median of $1,150,000 for single-family homes and $660,000 for condos in September 2026.

To dig into specific costs, see my posts on Maui electricity rates in 2026, Maui’s new water rates and your monthly budget, and renting on Maui before you buy.

Ask Benjamin

Budgeting for Maui is easier when you know what each area and property type really costs to own. I’m Benjamin Finnerty, and if you’re thinking about relocating, I’m happy to help you compare areas and estimate ownership costs. Just call or text me at 808-481-9748 or email benjaminfinnerty@gmail.com.

Sources: MIT Living Wage Calculator (Maui County, updated February 15, 2026); AAA Hawaiʻi via Maui Now (October 2, 2026); Hawaiʻi Department of Taxation; Maui Now; REALTORS® Association of Maui; Freddie Mac.