Is it cheaper to live in Allentown or Honolulu?

Allentown, PA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,320 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 39% below Honolulu, HI's $2,160, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Allentown than in Honolulu?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $44,000 a year in Allentown versus $63,000 in Honolulu.

Which has lower taxes, Allentown or Honolulu?

Allentown is taxed under Pennsylvania's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax); Honolulu under Hawaii's (a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax).

Allentown vs Honolulu Cost of Living 2026

Allentown

Pennsylvania

$1,320/mo est.

Honolulu

Hawaii

$2,160/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,320 in Allentown, PA versus $2,160 in Honolulu, HI. Overall, Allentown, PA is roughly 39% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Honolulu, HI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $53,403 in Allentown, PA and $85,428 in Honolulu, HI — about 37% higher in Honolulu, HI. Pennsylvania has a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax; Hawaii has a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax.

Allentown, PA

Honolulu, HI

Rent

Studio

$1,043

$1,390

+33% in Honolulu, HI

1 Bedroom

$1,100

$1,570

+43% in Honolulu, HI

2 Bedroom

$1,271

$1,983

+56% in Honolulu, HI

3 Bedroom

$1,431

$2,433

+70% in Honolulu, HI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$188,900

$834,100

+342% in Honolulu, HI

Income

Median Household Income

$53,403

$85,428

+60% in Honolulu, HI

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$48,990

$57,220

+17% in Honolulu, HI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

32.4 yr

42.9 yr

+10.5 yr in Honolulu, HI

Homeownership

42.3%

48.6%

+6.3 pp in Honolulu, HI

Bachelor's+ (25+)

19.4%

40.8%

+21.4 pp in Honolulu, HI

Avg Commute

24.8 min

22.3 min

+2.5 min in Allentown, PA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

274.5

214.1

+22% in Allentown, PA

Property Crime

1,591.5

1,919.8

+21% in Honolulu, HI

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

51.2°F

77.7°F

+26.5°F in Honolulu, HI

Annual Precipitation

45.4 in

17.1 in

+28.3 in in Allentown, PA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.86/gal

$5.09/gal

+32% in Honolulu, HI

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$3.00

Adult base one-way fare — — vs TheBus (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

21.6

52.0

+141% in Honolulu, HI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$19.17

$70.84

+270% in Honolulu, HI

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Honolulu, HI

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$2.04

+6% in Honolulu, HI

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$7.36

+7% in Honolulu, HI

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

$2.01

+8% in Allentown, PA

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

$0.70

about equal

Average prices — Northeast vs West (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (PA / HI)

+2.0 pp in PA

Income Tax (top rate)

3.07%

11.00%

+7.9 pp in HI

Allentown vs Honolulu — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Allentown or Honolulu?: Allentown, PA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,320 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 39% below Honolulu, HI's $2,160, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Allentown than in Honolulu?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $44,000 a year in Allentown versus $63,000 in Honolulu.
Which has lower taxes, Allentown or Honolulu?: Allentown is taxed under Pennsylvania's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax); Honolulu under Hawaii's (a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).