Is Honolulu expensive to live in?

Honolulu is among the most expensive of the 50 US cities we track. Its one-bedroom rent of $1,570 per month ranks #12 of 50 and is 28% higher than the $1,223 median.

What is the average rent in Honolulu?

Average rent in Honolulu, HI runs a studio around $1,390, a one-bedroom around $1,570, a two-bedroom around $1,983, a three-bedroom around $2,433 per month (US Census ACS).

How much do you need to earn to live in Honolulu?

To keep a one-bedroom rent of $1,570 near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $63,000 a year. The median household income here is $85,428.

How much does it cost to live in Honolulu per month?

A rough monthly baseline for one person in Honolulu is about $2,050 — one-bedroom rent plus typical residential electricity and heating. It excludes food, transport, and healthcare, so a full budget is higher.

An aerial view of a city next to the ocean — Honolulu, HI

Cost of Living in Honolulu, HI

Population 343,302 · Hawaii

~$2,050/mo est.1BR $1,570Home $834,100

Photo: Spenser Sembrat / Unsplash

Compare with:

The cost of living in Honolulu, HI is driven mostly by housing. A one-bedroom apartment rents for around $1,570 a month — 28% higher than the $1,223 median across the 50 large US cities we track. Studios average $1,390 and two-bedrooms $1,983.

Median household income here is $85,428, 13% higher than the $75,900 median of the cities we track. Adding typical electricity and heating to one-bedroom rent, a rough monthly baseline for one person is about $2,050 before food and transport. Hawaii has a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax.

Rent1BR $1,570

Studio

$1,390

1 Bedroom

$1,570

2 Bedroom

$1,983

3 Bedroom

$2,433

Buying a Home$834,100

Median Home Value

$834,100

Income$85,428

Median Household Income

$85,428

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$57,220

Household income: Census ACS, city. Metro median wage: BLS OEWS, all occupations, 2025 (metro area).

GroceriesWest

Milk (gal)

$4.37

Bread (lb)

$2.10

Eggs (doz)

$2.25

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.23

Chicken (lb)

$2.14

Bananas (lb)

$0.74

Average prices, West (BLS, 2026-04-01). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

Utilities42.2¢/kWh

Electricity

42.2¢/kWh

Natural Gas

$60.89/MCF

Residential, state-level averages (EIA, 2026-03-01). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Gas$5.57/gal

Regular Gasoline (West Coast (PADD 5))

$5.57/gal

EIA weekly retail average, week of 2026-05-25.

Public Transit$3.00

Base Fare (TheBus)

$3.00

Adult base one-way fare on the primary agency (2026).

State Taxes (HI)4% sales

State Sales Tax

State Income Tax (top rate)

Up to 11.00%

State-level rates. Local sales taxes may add more. Income tax shown is the top marginal rate; most filers pay less.

Crime214.1 violent

Violent Crime (per 100k/yr)

214.1

Property Crime (per 100k/yr)

1,919.8

FBI Crime Data Explorer, Honolulu Police Department (2024). Offenses per 100,000 residents per year. Agency reporting practices vary, so cross-city comparisons are approximate.

People & LifestyleAge 42.9 yrs

Median Age

42.9 yrs

Homeownership

48.6%

Bachelor's+ (25+)

40.8%

Avg Commute

22.3 min

Climate77.7°F

Avg Annual Temperature

77.7°F

Annual Precipitation

17.1 in

Honolulu cost of living — FAQ

Is Honolulu expensive to live in?: Honolulu is among the most expensive of the 50 US cities we track. Its one-bedroom rent of $1,570 per month ranks #12 of 50 and is 28% higher than the $1,223 median.
What is the average rent in Honolulu?: Average rent in Honolulu, HI runs a studio around $1,390, a one-bedroom around $1,570, a two-bedroom around $1,983, a three-bedroom around $2,433 per month (US Census ACS).
How much do you need to earn to live in Honolulu?: To keep a one-bedroom rent of $1,570 near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $63,000 a year. The median household income here is $85,428.
How much does it cost to live in Honolulu per month?: A rough monthly baseline for one person in Honolulu is about $2,050 — one-bedroom rent plus typical residential electricity and heating. It excludes food, transport, and healthcare, so a full budget is higher.

Compare Honolulu with nearby cities

Honolulu vs San Francisco Honolulu vs Sacramento Honolulu vs Fresno Honolulu vs Bakersfield Honolulu vs Long Beach Honolulu vs Los Angeles

Nearby cities

San Francisco, CA 2395 mi Sacramento, CA 2460 mi Fresno, CA 2514 mi Bakersfield, CA 2534 mi Long Beach, CA 2560 mi Los Angeles, CA 2560 mi

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981-2010 (climate); EIA (gas, utilities); BLS Average Price Data (groceries) & OEWS (metro wage); transit agencies (fares); FBI Crime Data Explorer (crime); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes). Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + utilities; not a full cost of living.