Best Cities for Remote Workers in Hawaii
Hawaii ranks #45 of 50 for remote workers, with a remote workers score of 40.3. Mililani Mauka is its best city for remote workers at 59.9.
- Hawaii, all states
- #45 of 50
- Population
- 21,278
What Remote Workers Should Know About Hawaii
Hawaii ranks #45 out of 50 for remote workers — a state where remote workers may face some headwinds. Remote work fundamentally changes the relocation calculus: when your salary comes from elsewhere, what matters is how far it stretches locally and how good daily life feels. With a cost-of-living index of 110, Hawaii is above average — remote workers from lower-cost areas won't see a purchasing power advantage.
The moderate work-from-home rate of 8.9% suggests growing but not yet dominant remote work adoption. 93% of households have a broadband subscription, at or above the 50-state average, so home internet is widely adopted.
The 13.92% tax burden is above average, which can offset some of the cost-of-living advantages for higher-earning remote professionals. Housing affordability (score: 4/100) is a concern — the typical home is worth $833,340, which may require a strong remote salary to afford comfortably.
All 20 Cities Ranked for Remote Workers
| # City | Grade | Remote Workers score | Overall | Affordability | Economy | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Mililani Mauka | A+ | 59.9 | 67.8 | 25 | 90 | 21,278 |
| 2Kailua CDP (Honolulu County) | A+ | 59.7 | 68.0 | 17 | 99 | 39,640 |
| 3Ocean Pointe | A | 58.5 | 66.4 | 17 | 100 | 17,085 |
| 4East Honolulu | A+ | 58.2 | 68.5 | 17 | 100 | 51,360 |
| 5Ewa Gentry | A | 58.2 | 64.4 | 26 | 88 | 26,563 |
| 6Kapolei | A | 57.8 | 63.3 | 32 | 81 | 22,232 |
| 7Mililani Town | A | 56.5 | 63.1 | 24 | 80 | 27,668 |
| 8Ewa Beach | B+ | 55.3 | 62.0 | 29 | 78 | 14,376 |
| 9Kaneohe | B+ | 54.3 | 62.4 | 26 | 79 | 37,355 |
| 10Pearl City | B+ | 52.9 | 61.3 | 25 | 72 | 44,547 |
| 11Honolulu | B+ | 52.0 | 59.7 | 34 | 68 | 345,482 |
| 12Waipahu | B | 51.4 | 58.6 | 34 | 60 | 40,482 |
| 13Wailuku | B | 50.8 | 57.0 | 35 | 59 | 16,926 |
| 14Makakilo | C+ | 50.0 | 55.7 | 27 | 73 | 20,735 |
| 15Kahului | C+ | 48.1 | 55.1 | 38 | 55 | 28,288 |
| 16Wahiawa | C | 46.1 | 51.7 | 38 | 45 | 17,996 |
| 17Schofield Barracks | C | 45.7 | 52.2 | 26 | 40 | 16,270 |
| 18Kihei | C+ | 44.9 | 53.3 | 29 | 46 | 21,567 |
| 19Hilo | C | 44.7 | 51.9 | 56 | 41 | 50,404 |
| 20Kailua CDP (Hawaii County) | D | 43.9 | 48.9 | 45 | 46 | 21,818 |
City remote workers scores use each city's own data, with the category weights rescaled over the categories the city has; outdoor access has no city-level measure and is left out.
Compare: States with Similar Remote Workers Rankings
Also See: Hawaii for Other Lifestyles
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hawaii a good state for remote workers?
Hawaii ranks #45 out of 50 for remote workers with a persona-weighted score of 40.3/100. Its strongest relevant category is Economy (86/100) and its weakest is Affordability (4/100).
What is the best city for remote workers in Hawaii?
Mililani Mauka ranks #1 in Hawaii for remote workers with a score of 59.9/100, followed by Kailua CDP (Honolulu County) and Ocean Pointe.
What factors are most important for remote workers in Hawaii?
Rankings weighted toward affordable cost of living, strong economy, outdoor access, livability, low taxes, and safe communities — what remote workers prioritize when choosing where to live.