The median home price in Honolulu is $870,000, with a local 30-year mortgage rate of 6.85%. A buyer putting 20% down carries a loan of $696,000, generating a monthly P&I payment of $4,561. Adding property taxes ($203/mo) and homeowners insurance ($363/mo) brings total monthly PITI to $5,126.
Honolulu's property tax rate of 0.28% is among the lower rates in the country, which improves overall affordability by keeping total PITI closer to the principal and interest payment alone. On the Honolulu median home, that is $203/month, or $2,436 per year.
Hawaii levies a state income tax, which affects take-home pay and effective buying power. High-income earners in Honolulu should factor state tax liability into their overall housing budget — mortgage interest may be deductible on both federal and state returns.