Is it cheaper to live in Aurora or Honolulu?

Aurora, CO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 37% below Honolulu, HI's $2,050, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Aurora versus $63,000 in Honolulu.

Which has lower taxes, Aurora or Honolulu?

Aurora is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax); Honolulu under Hawaii's (a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax).

Aurora vs Honolulu Cost of Living 2026

Aurora

Colorado

$1,300/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 $1,300 in Aurora, CO versus $2,050 in Honolulu, HI. Overall, Aurora, CO is roughly 37% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Honolulu, HI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $85,364 in Aurora, CO and $85,428 in Honolulu, HI. Colorado has a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax; Hawaii has a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax.

Aurora, CO

Honolulu, HI

Rent

Studio

—

$1,390

1 Bedroom

$1,138

$1,570

+38% in Honolulu, HI

2 Bedroom

$2,284

$1,983

+13% in Aurora, CO

3 Bedroom

$2,320

$2,433

+5% in Honolulu, HI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$689,000

$834,100

+21% in Honolulu, HI

Income

Median Household Income

$85,364

$85,428

+0% in Honolulu, HI

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$62,320

$57,220

+8% in Aurora, CO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.3 yr

42.9 yr

+7.6 yr in Honolulu, HI

Homeownership

46.0%

48.6%

+2.6 pp in Honolulu, HI

Bachelor's+ (25+)

41.4%

40.8%

+0.6 pp in Aurora, CO

Avg Commute

18.7 min

22.3 min

+3.6 min in Honolulu, HI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

952.4

214.1

+78% in Aurora, CO

Property Crime

3,366.6

1,919.8

+43% in Aurora, CO

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

50.2°F

77.7°F

+27.5°F in Honolulu, HI

Annual Precipitation

15.6 in

17.1 in

+1.5 in in Honolulu, HI

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.54/gal

$5.57/gal

+23% in Honolulu, HI

Area: Colorado vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.75

$3.00

+9% in Honolulu, HI

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.7

42.2

+152% in Honolulu, HI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$11.64

$60.89

+423% in Honolulu, HI

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.37

about equal

Bread (lb)

$2.10

about equal

Eggs (doz)

$2.25

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.23

about equal

Chicken (lb)

$2.14

about equal

Bananas (lb)

$0.74

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CO / HI)

2.9%

+1.1 pp in HI

Income Tax (top rate)

4.40%

11.00%

+6.6 pp in HI

Aurora vs Honolulu — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Aurora or Honolulu?: Aurora, CO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 37% below Honolulu, HI's $2,050, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Aurora than in Honolulu?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Aurora versus $63,000 in Honolulu.
Which has lower taxes, Aurora or Honolulu?: Aurora is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% 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).