Living Cost Compare
Colorado Springs

Colorado

$1,470/mo est.

vs
Honolulu

Hawaii

$2,050/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,470 in Colorado Springs, CO versus $2,050 in Honolulu, HI. Overall, Colorado Springs, CO is roughly 28% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Honolulu, HI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $83,198 in Colorado Springs, CO and $85,428 in Honolulu, HI — about 3% higher 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.

Colorado Springs, CO
Honolulu, HI

Rent

Studio
$998
$1,390
+39% in Honolulu, HI
1 Bedroom
$1,305
$1,570
+20% in Honolulu, HI
2 Bedroom
$1,504
$1,983
+32% in Honolulu, HI
3 Bedroom
$1,881
$2,433
+29% in Honolulu, HI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$420,700
$834,100
+98% in Honolulu, HI

Income

Median Household Income
$83,198
$85,428
+3% in Honolulu, HI
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$52,710
$57,220
+9% in Honolulu, HI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.6 yr
42.9 yr
+7.3 yr in Honolulu, HI
Homeownership
61.3%
48.6%
+12.7 pp in Colorado Springs, CO
Bachelor's+ (25+)
41.9%
40.8%
+1.1 pp in Colorado Springs, CO
Avg Commute
22.8 min
22.3 min
+0.5 min in Colorado Springs, CO

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
721.1
214.1
+70% in Colorado Springs, CO
Property Crime
3,487.9
1,919.8
+45% in Colorado Springs, CO

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
49.0°F
77.7°F
+28.7°F in Honolulu, HI
Annual Precipitation
16.5 in
17.1 in
+0.6 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)
$1.75
$3.00
+71% in Honolulu, HI

Adult base one-way fare — Mountain Metro 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
$4.37
about equal
Bread (lb)
$2.10
$2.10
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.25
$2.25
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.23
$7.23
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.14
$2.14
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.74
$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%
4%
+1.1 pp in HI
Income Tax (top rate)
4.40%
11.00%
+6.6 pp in HI

Colorado Springs vs Honolulu — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Colorado Springs or Honolulu?
Colorado Springs, CO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,470 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 28% below Honolulu, HI's $2,050, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Colorado Springs than in Honolulu?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $52,000 a year in Colorado Springs versus $63,000 in Honolulu.
Which has lower taxes, Colorado Springs or Honolulu?
Colorado Springs 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).