Is it cheaper to live in Boise or Honolulu?

Boise, ID is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,260 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 42% below Honolulu, HI's $2,160, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $45,000 a year in Boise versus $63,000 in Honolulu.

Which has lower taxes, Boise or Honolulu?

Boise is taxed under Idaho's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.30% 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).

Boise vs Honolulu Cost of Living 2026

Boise

Idaho

$1,260/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 $1,260 in Boise, ID versus $2,160 in Honolulu, HI. Overall, Boise, ID is roughly 42% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Honolulu, HI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $81,308 in Boise, ID and $85,428 in Honolulu, HI — about 5% higher in Honolulu, HI. Idaho has a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax; Hawaii has a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax.

Boise, ID

Honolulu, HI

Rent

Studio

$1,021

$1,390

+36% in Honolulu, HI

1 Bedroom

$1,133

$1,570

+39% in Honolulu, HI

2 Bedroom

$1,342

$1,983

+48% in Honolulu, HI

3 Bedroom

$1,749

$2,433

+39% in Honolulu, HI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$456,000

$834,100

+83% in Honolulu, HI

Income

Median Household Income

$81,308

$85,428

+5% in Honolulu, HI

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,100

$57,220

+17% in Honolulu, HI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.2 yr

42.9 yr

+4.7 yr in Honolulu, HI

Homeownership

63.0%

48.6%

+14.4 pp in Boise, ID

Bachelor's+ (25+)

46.6%

40.8%

+5.8 pp in Boise, ID

Avg Commute

19.1 min

22.3 min

+3.2 min in Honolulu, HI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

301

214.1

+29% in Boise, ID

Property Crime

1,135.1

1,919.8

+69% 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

52.5°F

77.7°F

+25.2°F in Honolulu, HI

Annual Precipitation

11.7 in

17.1 in

+5.4 in in Honolulu, HI

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.29/gal

$5.09/gal

+19% in Honolulu, HI

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$3.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

12.3

52.0

+321% in Honolulu, HI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$10.82

$70.84

+555% in Honolulu, HI

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

about equal

Bread (lb)

$2.04

about equal

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

about equal

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

about equal

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (ID / HI)

+2.0 pp in ID

Income Tax (top rate)

5.30%

11.00%

+5.7 pp in HI

Boise vs Honolulu — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Boise or Honolulu?: Boise, ID is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,260 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 42% below Honolulu, HI's $2,160, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Boise than in Honolulu?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $45,000 a year in Boise versus $63,000 in Honolulu.
Which has lower taxes, Boise or Honolulu?: Boise is taxed under Idaho's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.30% 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).