Is it cheaper to live in Bismarck or Honolulu?

Bismarck, ND is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $960 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 55% below Honolulu, HI's $2,150, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $32,000 a year in Bismarck versus $63,000 in Honolulu.

Which has lower taxes, Bismarck or Honolulu?

Bismarck is taxed under North Dakota's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% state sales tax); Honolulu under Hawaii's (a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax).

Bismarck vs Honolulu Cost of Living 2026

Bismarck

North Dakota

$960/mo est.

Honolulu

Hawaii

$2,150/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $960 in Bismarck, ND versus $2,150 in Honolulu, HI. Overall, Bismarck, ND is roughly 55% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Honolulu, HI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $77,608 in Bismarck, ND and $85,428 in Honolulu, HI — about 9% higher in Honolulu, HI. North Dakota has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% state sales tax; Hawaii has a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax.

Bismarck, ND

Honolulu, HI

Rent

Studio

$723

$1,390

+92% in Honolulu, HI

1 Bedroom

$803

$1,570

+96% in Honolulu, HI

2 Bedroom

$989

$1,983

+101% in Honolulu, HI

3 Bedroom

$1,421

$2,433

+71% in Honolulu, HI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$291,400

$834,100

+186% in Honolulu, HI

Income

Median Household Income

$77,608

$85,428

+10% in Honolulu, HI

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$52,560

$57,220

+9% in Honolulu, HI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.2 yr

42.9 yr

+4.7 yr in Honolulu, HI

Homeownership

65.8%

48.6%

+17.2 pp in Bismarck, ND

Bachelor's+ (25+)

38.7%

40.8%

+2.1 pp in Honolulu, HI

Avg Commute

15.5 min

22.3 min

+6.8 min in Honolulu, HI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

278

214.1

+23% in Bismarck, ND

Property Crime

2,417.1

1,919.8

+21% in Bismarck, ND

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

43.0°F

77.7°F

+34.7°F in Honolulu, HI

Annual Precipitation

17.9 in

17.1 in

+0.8 in in Bismarck, ND

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)

14.1

52.7

+273% in Honolulu, HI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$18.21

$66.84

+267% 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 Bismarck, ND

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$7.36

+9% in Honolulu, HI

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.01

+4% in Bismarck, ND

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 (ND / HI)

+1.0 pp in ND

Income Tax (top rate)

2.50%

11.00%

+8.5 pp in HI

Bismarck vs Honolulu — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bismarck or Honolulu?: Bismarck, ND is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $960 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 55% below Honolulu, HI's $2,150, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bismarck than in Honolulu?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $32,000 a year in Bismarck versus $63,000 in Honolulu.
Which has lower taxes, Bismarck or Honolulu?: Bismarck is taxed under North Dakota's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% 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).