Living Cost Compare
Ann Arbor

Michigan

$1,630/mo est.

vs
Honolulu

Hawaii

$2,150/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,630 in Ann Arbor, MI versus $2,150 in Honolulu, HI. Overall, Ann Arbor, MI is roughly 24% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Honolulu, HI, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $81,089 in Ann Arbor, MI and $85,428 in Honolulu, HI — about 5% higher in Honolulu, HI. Michigan has a top state income tax rate of 4.25% and a 6% state sales tax; Hawaii has a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax.

Ann Arbor, MI
Honolulu, HI

Rent

Studio
$1,274
$1,390
+9% in Honolulu, HI
1 Bedroom
$1,389
$1,570
+13% in Honolulu, HI
2 Bedroom
$1,692
$1,983
+17% in Honolulu, HI
3 Bedroom
$1,812
$2,433
+34% in Honolulu, HI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$435,100
$834,100
+92% in Honolulu, HI

Income

Median Household Income
$81,089
$85,428
+5% in Honolulu, HI
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$55,380
$57,220
+3% in Honolulu, HI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
27.7 yr
42.9 yr
+15.2 yr in Honolulu, HI
Homeownership
45.6%
48.6%
+3.0 pp in Honolulu, HI
Bachelor's+ (25+)
77.7%
40.8%
+36.9 pp in Ann Arbor, MI
Avg Commute
19.9 min
22.3 min
+2.4 min in Honolulu, HI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
311
214.1
+31% in Ann Arbor, MI
Property Crime
1,744.5
1,919.8
+10% 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
47.7°F
77.7°F
+30.0°F in Honolulu, HI
Annual Precipitation
32.8 in
17.1 in
+15.7 in in Ann Arbor, MI

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$5.21/gal
+35% in Honolulu, HI

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$3.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
23.0
52.7
+129% in Honolulu, HI
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$19.72
$66.84
+239% 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)
$1.66
$2.04
+23% in Honolulu, HI
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.19
+40% in Ann Arbor, MI
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$7.36
+9% in Honolulu, HI
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.01
+4% in Ann Arbor, MI
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.70
+14% in Honolulu, HI

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MI / HI)
6%
4%
+2.0 pp in MI
Income Tax (top rate)
4.25%
11.00%
+6.8 pp in HI

Ann Arbor vs Honolulu — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Ann Arbor or Honolulu?
Ann Arbor, MI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,630 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 24% below Honolulu, HI's $2,150, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Ann Arbor than in Honolulu?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $56,000 a year in Ann Arbor versus $63,000 in Honolulu.
Which has lower taxes, Ann Arbor or Honolulu?
Ann Arbor is taxed under Michigan's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.25% 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).