Hawaii vs North Carolina
Side-by-side cost of living comparison.
State Taxes
Sales Tax
4%
4.75%
+0.8 pp in North Carolina
Income Tax (top rate)
11.00%
3.99%
+7.0 pp in Hawaii
Housing (median across tracked cities)
Median 1BR Rent
$1,570
$1,349
+14% in Hawaii
Median Home Value
$834,100
$364,650
+56% in Hawaii
Income (median across tracked cities)
Median Household Income
$85,428
$80,431
+6% in Hawaii
Climate (median across tracked cities)
Avg Annual Temperature
77.7°F
60.3°F
+17.5°F in Hawaii
Housing, income, and climate are medians across the 1/2 cities we track in Hawaii/North Carolina — 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.