Is Maui Expensive: What You Need To Know

Planning a trip to Maui and worried about the costs? Check out this post that answers “Is Maui expensive?” and what you need to know!

Known for being an expensive state, Hawaii in general makes many people feel like they need to save up for the big trip. I personally have never been to Hawaii myself but as someone who would like to visit it one day, I’ve always wondered why the state was so expensive.

Maui, one of the most expensive islands in the archipelago, is on the top of my bucket list and I figured it would be cool to do some research on what makes it so expensive. So, if you’re planning a trip to Maui and you need more insight on how much it will cost, you’ve come to the right place. This post alone answers the question “Is Maui Expensive?” and what you can expect.

Maui Bucket List Series

P.S. This is a post in my Maui Bucket List series. Here is the complete 19-part series:

Hidden Gems: 10 Magical Hidden Gems in Maui, Hawaii

Black Sand Beaches: The 7 Most Amazing Black Sand Beaches in Maui

Poke: 12 Top Places to Get Poke in Maui

Breakfast: 8 Amazing Places to Get Breakfast in Lahaina, Maui

Coffee Shops: 7 Cozy Coffee Shops in Lahaina, Maui

Restaurants: The 12 Best Restaurants in Maui with a View

Accommodation: 10 Unique Places to Stay in Maui on a Budget

Sea Turtles: The 12 Best Places to See Sea Turtles in Maui

Surfing: The 10 Best Surf Spots in Maui

Road to Hana: The 7 Best Stops on the Road to Hana in Maui

Sunsets: 8 Incredible Places to Watch the Sunset in Maui

Waterfall Hikes: The 7 Best Waterfall Hikes in Maui

Vegan Food: 8 Incredible Vegan Restaurants in Maui

Instagram: 10 Incredible Maui Instagram Spots

Cheap Food: 10 Amazing Cheap Eats in Maui

Grocery Stores: The 8 Top Lahaina Grocery Stores You Need To Visit

Ka’anapali Restaurants: 9 Amazing Ka’anapali Restaurants You Don’t Want to Miss

Lahaina Restaurants: The 12 Coolest Restaurants in Lahaina on Front Street

Instagram Captions: 100 Media-Inspired Hawaii Captions for Your Instagram

Is Maui Expensive?

Yes, Maui is seemingly very expensive for all who visit it. In fact, the living costs are rising exponentially as we speak, affecting the indigenous people there who live there comfortably. However, as tourism continues to boom in Maui, this is unlikely to change.

Why is Maui Expensive?

There are a lot of reasons why Maui is so expensive for the average traveler. These reasons include but are not limited to supply and demand, shipping costs from the mainland, and COVID.

Supply and Demand

Maui is expensive due to the high demand of the many people that want to vacation there and the limited supply of goods. So, in other words, it’s expensive because locals are increasing their prices to match the limited supply that’s available. If the prices are high, the suppliers are more likely to produce, but if they are low, they won’t.

Shipping from the Mainland

Maui is also expensive due to the shipping costs that need to be paid to have things imported from the mainland (the United States). This is because since Hawaii is an archipelago in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, it will cost more for things like cars, packages, or any kind of delivery to be shipped from a state like Kansas all the way to Hawaii by boat. In fact, some websites like Amazon have certain limits when it comes to shipping to the state.

COVID

Lastly, another reason why Maui is so expensive is due to COVID. During COVID, Maui was practically a ghost town since travel and tourism ceased which unfortunately led to a decline in the state’s economy. Travel and tourism in Hawaii in addition also make up 21% of the state’s economy, with Hawaii’s largest industries revolving around the constant flow of tourists.

How much money do you need per day in Maui?

On average, expect to spend around $200 to $250 a day in Maui during your trip. This may increase or decrease depending on what you’re doing and who’s you’re with but it’s a good target range.

How much is a meal in Maui?

Meal prices in Maui typically depend on where you go but for the most part if you’re planning to eat at an expensive restaurant in a resort, expect to spend about $15-$20 per person for breakfast, $15-$25 for lunch and $30-$50 for dinner.

Meal prices in Maui in general are expensive since most of the food is imported to the island but if you want to avoid the high prices, I highly recommend eating at some local spots for great quality and low prices.

What is the average price of a hotel in Maui?

According to Momondo, the average price of a hotel in Maui varies depending on the city. For example, in this case, Kahului was the most searched city in Maui for hotel stays and the average cost for a hotel in this area is usually $789/night. Some other popular cities in Maui include Lahaina and Kihei. The average cost per night for a hotel in Lahaina is $860/night and for Kihei it’s $776/night.

How much does a car rental in Maui cost?

According to Kayak, the cost of an average car rental really depends on the type of car you would like to rent. For example, in Kayak an economy car rental would be $38/day, a compact car would be $40/day, an intermediate car would be $37/day, and a standard car would be $29/day. Therefore, I would highly suggest budgeting around these prices.

Is Maui more expensive than Oahu?

Yes, Maui is more expensive when you compare it to Oahu. In fact, Oahu is the cheapest of all of the Hawaiian islands in the archipelago when it comes to lodging, following behind the Big Island and Kauai.

Furthermore, when you also consider food and transportation too, Oahu also becomes the most affordable option in comparison to Maui.

How do you save money on a Maui vacation?

There are many ways you can save money on your Maui vacation. These ways include but are not limited to traveling during the low season, eating in, booking a condo or reserving a rental car in advance to make the most of your buck!

Travel During Low Season

Traveling during the low season can also help you save money in Maui because the island will be less populated around that time. In fact, as a result, airline prices will be lower as well as accommodation costs. The low season in Maui is in spring and it’s also in fall. To be specific, be sure to plan your Maui vacation from mid-April to mid-June or from September to December.

Eat In

Eating in can also help you save money on your Maui vacation since you’ll be less likely to spend it on expensive restaurants. This tip obviously doesn’t apply if you’re planning to stay somewhere without a kitchen but if you do have a kitchen, I highly recommend shopping at your local grocery store to make your own budget-friendly meals. You’ll be surprised at how long your groceries last in comparison to just buying meals everyday.

Book a Condo

Booking a condo can also help you save money in Maui if you’re traveling as a group since they’re usually fully-equipped. Staying at a condo in Maui can feel like you’re home away from home even though you’re in a completely different place. In fact, depending on where you go in Maui, a condo might even be cheaper than staying at a resort. So, if you’re looking for a great group accommodation deal, condos are a great place to start.

Reserve a Rental Car in Advance

Lastly, reserving a rental car in advance is another way to save money in Maui. Reserving a month in advance is typically the most common thing tourists do but you can even plan further in advance if you want. This helps to avoid any shortages of car rentals once you’re there so that you can travel around the island stress-free. Reserving a rental car in advance can also lead to lower costs since you’re not renting a vehicle last-minute.

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Overall, I really hope you enjoyed this post on “Is Maui Expensive: What You Need To Know”! Please let me know in the comments down below which fact about this post surprised you the most. I would love to hear from you! 🙂

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