Is it cheaper to live in Chicago or Honolulu?

Chicago, IL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,440 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 30% below Honolulu, HI's $2,050, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $50,000 a year in Chicago versus $63,000 in Honolulu.

Which has lower taxes, Chicago or Honolulu?

Chicago is taxed under Illinois's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax); Honolulu under Hawaii's (a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax).

Chicago vs Honolulu Cost of Living 2026

Chicago

Illinois

$1,440/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 $1,440 in Chicago, IL versus $2,050 in Honolulu, HI. Overall, Chicago, IL is roughly 30% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Honolulu, HI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $75,134 in Chicago, IL and $85,428 in Honolulu, HI — about 12% higher in Honolulu, HI. Illinois has a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax; Hawaii has a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax.

Chicago, IL

Honolulu, HI

Rent

Studio

$1,186

$1,390

+17% in Honolulu, HI

1 Bedroom

$1,258

$1,570

+25% in Honolulu, HI

2 Bedroom

$1,406

$1,983

+41% in Honolulu, HI

3 Bedroom

$1,554

$2,433

+57% in Honolulu, HI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$315,200

$834,100

+165% in Honolulu, HI

Income

Median Household Income

$75,134

$85,428

+14% in Honolulu, HI

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$54,720

$57,220

+5% in Honolulu, HI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.7 yr

42.9 yr

+7.2 yr in Honolulu, HI

Homeownership

45.5%

48.6%

+3.1 pp in Honolulu, HI

Bachelor's+ (25+)

43.3%

40.8%

+2.5 pp in Chicago, IL

Avg Commute

33.5 min

22.3 min

+11.2 min in Chicago, IL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

539.8

214.1

+60% in Chicago, IL

Property Crime

3,489.9

1,919.8

+45% in Chicago, IL

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

52.7°F

77.7°F

+25.0°F in Honolulu, HI

Annual Precipitation

38.0 in

17.1 in

+20.9 in in Chicago, IL

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.82/gal

$5.57/gal

+15% in Honolulu, HI

Area: Chicago vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.50

$3.00

+20% in Honolulu, HI

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

18.9

42.2

+124% in Honolulu, HI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$12.10

$60.89

+403% in Honolulu, HI

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.14

$4.37

+6% in Honolulu, HI

Bread (lb)

$1.79

$2.10

+17% in Honolulu, HI

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.25

+38% in Chicago, IL

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.97

$7.23

+4% in Honolulu, HI

Chicken (lb)

$2.15

$2.14

+1% in Chicago, IL

Bananas (lb)

$0.63

$0.74

+18% in Honolulu, HI

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IL / HI)

6.25%

+2.3 pp in IL

Income Tax (top rate)

4.95%

11.00%

+6.0 pp in HI

Chicago vs Honolulu — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Chicago or Honolulu?: Chicago, IL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,440 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 30% below Honolulu, HI's $2,050, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Chicago than in Honolulu?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $50,000 a year in Chicago versus $63,000 in Honolulu.
Which has lower taxes, Chicago or Honolulu?: Chicago is taxed under Illinois's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% 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).