Best Cities for Remote Workers in Hawaii
What Remote Workers Should Know About Hawaii
Hawaii ranks #40 out of 50 for remote workers β 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 109, Hawaii is above average β remote workers from lower-cost areas won't see a purchasing power advantage.
The moderate work-from-home rate of 8% suggests growing but not yet dominant remote work adoption. Broadband coverage is excellent at 93.7%, so reliable internet shouldn't be a concern.
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: 9/100) is a concern β the median home costs $743,000, 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 | Outdoor Access | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | East Honolulu | A+ | 57.2 | 65.5 | 15 | 97 | 36 | 50,961 |
| 2 | Wailuku | B+ | 53.5 | 59.3 | 33 | 70 | 36 | 15,754 |
| 3 | Kahului | B+ | 52.5 | 58.8 | 34 | 70 | 36 | 27,068 |
| 4 | Kailua CDP (Honolulu County) | A | 52.4 | 60.8 | 15 | 74 | 36 | 39,762 |
| 5 | Mililani Mauka | B+ | 52.4 | 59.9 | 20 | 71 | 36 | 21,967 |
| 6 | Ewa Gentry | B+ | 51.6 | 57.9 | 23 | 67 | 36 | 26,738 |
| 7 | Mililani Town | B+ | 51.5 | 58.8 | 21 | 64 | 36 | 27,495 |
| 8 | Ocean Pointe | B+ | 51.3 | 58.5 | 15 | 72 | 36 | 16,276 |
| 9 | Ewa Beach | B+ | 50.9 | 57.2 | 24 | 64 | 36 | 15,388 |
| 10 | Kapolei | B+ | 50.9 | 57.0 | 24 | 66 | 36 | 23,033 |
| 11 | Makakilo | B | 49.9 | 56.0 | 23 | 62 | 36 | 20,372 |
| 12 | Pearl City | B+ | 49.8 | 57.8 | 21 | 60 | 36 | 45,079 |
| 13 | Kaneohe | B+ | 49.8 | 57.5 | 20 | 64 | 36 | 35,945 |
| 14 | Honolulu | B+ | 49.4 | 57.4 | 30 | 65 | 36 | 341,753 |
| 15 | Schofield Barracks | B | 48.8 | 55.4 | 35 | 42 | 36 | 16,755 |
| 16 | Waipahu | B | 47.7 | 55.0 | 28 | 53 | 36 | 39,871 |
| 17 | Hilo | B | 47.7 | 54.0 | 42 | 44 | 36 | 48,223 |
| 18 | Kailua CDP (Hawaii County) | B | 47.4 | 56.0 | 32 | 48 | 36 | 21,851 |
| 19 | Kihei | B | 46.3 | 54.0 | 23 | 48 | 36 | 22,564 |
| 20 | Wahiawa | C+ | 45.8 | 51.8 | 33 | 48 | 36 | 17,515 |