Cost of Living in Makawao
Makawao's cost of living runs genuinely high, layering Hawaii's own statewide cost-of-living burden onto Makawao's own expensive, thin luxury housing stock.
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Learn moreHawaii's real, statewide cost-of-living burden
Hawaii's cost-of-living index runs genuinely the highest in the nation (~193, per this project's Hawaii manifest research), applying to Makawao as everywhere in the state (base record).
Genuinely expensive housing on a rate basis
Redfin's cited $1.3 million median sale price runs substantially above the ~$408,776 national comparison figure, with real, disclosed extreme year-over-year volatility (+66.7%) (base record).
A genuinely low property tax RATE, but a real dollar bill to match Makawao's own high values
Maui County's cited ~0.16%-0.20% effective property tax rate runs among the lowest in the nation, though Makawao's own high home values mean the real dollar tax bill runs meaningfully above what that low rate alone suggests (base record).
Elevated homeowners insurance, disclosed directly
Maui-wide typical premiums of $2,400-$4,800/year apply to Makawao, a real, disclosed consequence of post-2023-wildfire risk repricing that this record confirms is not limited to West Maui, given Makawao's own direct 2023 fire (base record).
Key takeaways
- Hawaii's real, statewide cost-of-living index runs the highest in the nation, applying fully to Makawao.
- Makawao's $1.3M cited median home price runs far above the national comparison figure.
- Maui County's low property tax rate still yields a real, meaningful dollar bill on Makawao's high-value homes.
- Homeowners insurance runs genuinely elevated ($2,400-$4,800/year) given real, disclosed wildfire risk repricing.
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