Is it cheaper to live in Atlanta or Honolulu?

Atlanta, GA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,740 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 15% below Honolulu, HI's $2,050, mainly because of electricity costs.

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

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

Which has lower taxes, Atlanta or Honolulu?

Atlanta is taxed under Georgia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax); Honolulu under Hawaii's (a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax).

Atlanta vs Honolulu Cost of Living 2026

Atlanta

Georgia

$1,740/mo est.

Honolulu

Hawaii

$2,050/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,740 in Atlanta, GA versus $2,050 in Honolulu, HI. Overall, Atlanta, GA is roughly 15% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Honolulu, HI, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $81,938 in Atlanta, GA and $85,428 in Honolulu, HI — about 4% higher in Honolulu, HI. Georgia has a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax; Hawaii has a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax.

Atlanta, GA

Honolulu, HI

Rent

Studio

$1,669

$1,390

+17% in Atlanta, GA

1 Bedroom

$1,576

$1,570

+0% in Atlanta, GA

2 Bedroom

$1,701

$1,983

+17% in Honolulu, HI

3 Bedroom

$1,557

$2,433

+56% in Honolulu, HI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$420,600

$834,100

+98% in Honolulu, HI

Income

Median Household Income

$81,938

$85,428

+4% in Honolulu, HI

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,170

$57,220

+12% in Honolulu, HI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.0 yr

42.9 yr

+8.9 yr in Honolulu, HI

Homeownership

46.3%

48.6%

+2.3 pp in Honolulu, HI

Bachelor's+ (25+)

58.4%

40.8%

+17.6 pp in Atlanta, GA

Avg Commute

26.8 min

22.3 min

+4.5 min in Atlanta, GA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

603.5

214.1

+65% in Atlanta, GA

Property Crime

3,548.3

1,919.8

+46% in Atlanta, GA

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

62.6°F

77.7°F

+15.1°F in Honolulu, HI

Annual Precipitation

49.7 in

17.1 in

+32.6 in in Atlanta, GA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.30/gal

$5.57/gal

+29% in Honolulu, HI

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.50

$3.00

+20% in Honolulu, HI

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.0

42.2

+181% in Honolulu, HI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$18.41

$60.89

+231% in Honolulu, HI

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.16

$4.37

+5% in Honolulu, HI

Bread (lb)

$1.73

$2.10

+21% in Honolulu, HI

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$2.25

+3% in Honolulu, HI

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.56

$7.23

+10% in Honolulu, HI

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.14

+12% in Honolulu, HI

Bananas (lb)

$0.61

$0.74

+21% in Honolulu, HI

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (GA / HI)

about equal

Income Tax (top rate)

5.19%

11.00%

+5.8 pp in HI

Atlanta vs Honolulu — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Atlanta or Honolulu?: Atlanta, GA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,740 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 15% below Honolulu, HI's $2,050, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Atlanta than in Honolulu?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $63,000 a year in Atlanta versus $63,000 in Honolulu.
Which has lower taxes, Atlanta or Honolulu?: Atlanta is taxed under Georgia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% 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).