Don’t Retire in Maui Until You Run These Numbers (2025 Edition)

If you’re dreaming of retiring in Maui, I’m here to be your guide, your resource, and your local connection. I’m Chaston Marcos your friendly, straight-talking Maui real estate agent and my goal is to give you the clearest, most honest, most practical picture of life (and costs) on the island. Text me anytime at 808-371-6475.

This deep-dive is built for people retiring in Maui or moving to Maui soon. We’ll cover housing, groceries, utilities, healthcare, and taxes plus simple rules of thumb so you can sanity-check your plan. If you’re looking for the Maui best real estate agent to help you buy, sell, or invest, you’re in the right place.

1) Housing: the pivot point

What homes and condos actually cost in 2025

• Single-family homes: Recent reports put Maui’s median single-family price hovering around the $1.1M–$1.2Mrange, with monthly snapshots varying by town and inventory. Local Realtor data shows medians routinely near or above $1M through 2025. (WalletHub)

• Condos: Condos span a wide range depending on location (Kihei, Kāʻanapali, Wailea, Wailuku). Monthly medians have bounced around (interest rates, post-fires inventory), but resort-area condos remain premium. (WalletHub)

Rents you’ll see on the ground

• One-bedroom long-term rent in central areas like Wailuku/Kahului often lands around $2,700–$3,000 (median all-types). Resort pockets (Wailea/Kapalua) can run much higher, and it’s not rare to see $6,000+ listings in peak-amenity buildings. (Zumper - Apartments for Rent & Houses)

HOA / AOAO reality

• Statewide median condo/HOA dues are among the highest in the U.S.; Hawaiʻi’s median runs around $470/month, and resort properties can be much higher. In Wailea, for example, it’s common to see $1,200–$1,600+ per month maintenance fees on popular complexes. (Axios)

Insurance since the 2023 fires

• Hawaiʻi’s property insurance market tightened after the Lahaina wildfire. Condo associations in particular have seen steep premium jumps; the State declared an emergency in 2024 and has continued efforts in 2025 to stabilize coverage. Expect higher line items (and occasional special assessments) to persist. (Hawaii Governor's Office)

Quick gut-check: If housing (mortgage or rent + HOA + insurance + property tax + upkeep) eats over 40% of your fixed income, full-time Maui life will feel tight. Consider smaller footprints (Wailuku/Kihei condos) or a phase-in plan.

2) Food: paradise has a premium

• Hawaiʻi consistently ranks near the top for grocery costs. Multiple datasets show Honolulu (our best official proxy) as one of the most expensive grocery markets in the U.S.; the food-at-home index rose ~4–5% year over year in mid-2025. Expect Maui to track similarly or higher for many staples. (Visual Capitalist)

• Annual grocery outlays are high statewide; recent analysis places Hawaiʻi among the top three for household grocery spend. Plan your budget with that reality baked in. (Maui Now)

Rule of thumb for a couple who cooks often:
Start around $1,000–$1,400/month for home cooking, and more if you love premium markets and frequent dining out. (Your cart, diet, and location will swing this.)

3) Utilities: the stealth budget killer

• Electricity: Hawaiʻi’s July 2025 residential price averaged ~39¢/kWh statewide versus ~17.5¢ U.S. average over 2× mainland costs. Maui tends to run in the same ballpark. Air-conditioning or dehumidification can easily push a two-bedroom’s bill into the $300–$500+ range in warm months.

• Water, sewer, trash: Maui County base charges add up quickly. Typical residential base fees: about $28.81/monthfor water (plus tiered usage), ~$51/month for sewer (plus usage), and ~$36/month for county refuse collection (billed annually). Many condos include some of these in AOAO fees, but verify. (Maui County)

• Solar: Because power is pricey, rooftop PV often pays back in the mid-single-digit years here (project-specific). That’s a help for 55, less so if you’re 75 and planning a shorter horizon.

4) Healthcare: good basics, plan for specialty travel

• On-island care: Maui Memorial Medical Center (Wailuku) provides broad inpatient services interventional cardiology and even cardiac surgery among them plus oncology, orthopedics, stroke care, and more. Kaiser Permanente also operates clinics on Maui and accepts Medicare in its Senior Advantage plan. (mauihealth.org)

• When you’ll likely hop a plane: For certain complex specialties (transplant, some advanced oncology protocols, sub-specialty surgeries), patients are commonly referred to Oʻahu (Queen’s, Straub, etc.). Budget for occasional inter-island airfare sale fares can be $39–$99 one-way, but typical trips with baggage and timing can land in the $130–$200 round-trip zone. (The Queen′s Health Systems)

Planning tip: If you take multiple specialty trips a year, a dedicated medical travel fund (e.g., $3k–$5k per person annually) keeps surprises from derailing your budget.

5) Taxes: friendly… and not

• General Excise Tax (GET): Hawaiʻi’s 4% GET plus a 0.5% Maui County surcharge means most purchases effectively carry ~4.5% (businesses commonly pass on 4.712%). (Tax Cut Hawai‘i)

• Property tax: Hawaiʻi has the lowest effective property tax in the nation by several measures (varies by use class and exemptions), but assessed values can be high. Check Maui County tiers if you’ll owner-occupy vs. second-home. (Zillow)

• Income tax on retirement:

  • Social Security: Not taxed by Hawaiʻi.

  • Employer-funded pensions (public & private): Generally exempt at the state level.

  • IRA/401(k) withdrawals & investment income: Taxable at normal Hawaiʻi rates (top bracket currently 11%). Plan accordingly. (Hawaii Files)

A quick example: A couple drawing $80,000 primarily from tax-deferred accounts may owe state income tax where a no-tax state (e.g., TX) wouldn’t. Always model your specific mix with a CPA.

A simple wealth yardstick for a calm Maui retirement

Financial planners keep debating the “safe” draw. Morningstar’s 2025 baseline puts a starting withdrawal near ~3.7%for a 30-year horizon (more conservative than the classic 4% rule), while Bill Bengen’s newest analysis argues some retirees can sustain ~4.7% given certain allocations. Treat these as planning bookends, not commandments. (Morningstar)

• Translation:

  • $1.6M in investable assets → ~$59k at 3.7% (or $75k at 4.7%).

  • $2.0M → ~$74k at 3.7% (or $94k at 4.7%).
    Keep spending near $80k–$100k (before big travel splurges), own your home/condo outright, and Maui gets far more comfortable.

Build a realistic monthly snapshot (starting point)

These aren’t quotes just a planning template you can edit:

• Housing (own): HOA/AOAO $500–$1,600+; insurance higher post-wildfires; property tax low but value high. (Axios)

• Housing (rent): 1-BR $2,700–$3,000 central; $5,000–$7,000+ for high-amenity resort areas. (Zumper - Apartments for Rent & Houses)

• Electricity: Often $300–$500+/mo depending on AC and usage, given ~39¢/kWh state average.

• Water/Sewer/Trash: ~$115–$150+ base before usage (or included in AOAO check). (Maui County)

• Groceries: Start $1,000–$1,400 for two (more for premium shopping/dining). Hawaiʻi ranks among the top for grocery spend. (Maui Now)

• Healthcare travel cushion: $250–$400/mo per person if you expect periodic specialty visits to Oʻahu (airfare + incidentals). (KAYAK)

• GET (sales-like tax): Factor ~4.5%–4.712% into everyday purchases. (Tax Cut Hawai‘i)

Make Maui work (without stress)

• Right-size the home. Consider Wailuku/Kihei condos with strong owner-occupant communities and manageable AOAO fees. I’ll help you vet buildings, reserves, insurance status, and special-assessment risk. (SmartAsset)

• Reduce fixed costs. Solar where sensible, ceiling fans, induction cooktops, smart thermostats/dehumidifiers. (PV payback can be favorable here.)

• Plan for care. Establish Maui PCPs early; know referral paths to Queen’s or Straub for subspecialties. (The Queen′s Health Systems)

• Dial in taxes. If most income is IRA/401(k), plan Roth conversions strategically and model Hawaiʻi brackets before you move. (Hawaii Files)

The payoff

Maui gives back in ways spreadsheets can’t capture: trade winds, golden hours that reset your body clock, and neighbors who become family. Just walk in clear-eyed. Housing, groceries, electricity, specialty-care flights, and state income tax on retirement account withdrawals are the big guardrails here. Get them right, and the island will welcome you not chew through your nest egg.

Let’s tailor this to your numbers

I’m Chaston Marcos. If you’re retiring in Maui or moving to Maui, I’ll help you pressure-test your plan and find the right neighborhood and building. Text “MAUI” to 808-371-6475 for my free “Moving to Maui” guide, or message me your rough net-worth range and timeline for a quick reality check. If you’re ready to buy or sell, let’s work together calm, honest, and organized.