California vs Hawaii
Side-by-side cost of living comparison.
State Taxes
Sales Tax
7.25%
4%
+3.3 pp in California
Income Tax (top rate)
13.30%
11.00%
+2.3 pp in California
Housing (median across tracked cities)
Median 1BR Rent
$1,688
$1,570
+7% in California
Median Home Value
$771,700
$834,100
+8% in Hawaii
Income (median across tracked cities)
Median Household Income
$83,969
$85,428
+2% in Hawaii
Climate (median across tracked cities)
Avg Annual Temperature
64.4°F
77.7°F
+13.3°F in Hawaii
Housing, income, and climate are medians across the 9/1 cities we track in California/Hawaii — not population-weighted statewide figures. Taxes are exact state-level rates. Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year; NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010; Tax Foundation 2026.