Is it cheaper to live in Columbia or Honolulu?

Columbia, SC is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,220 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 43% below Honolulu, HI's $2,150, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year in Columbia versus $63,000 in Honolulu.

Which has lower taxes, Columbia or Honolulu?

Columbia is taxed under South Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% 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).

Columbia vs Honolulu Cost of Living 2026

Columbia

South Carolina

$1,220/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 $1,220 in Columbia, SC versus $2,150 in Honolulu, HI. Overall, Columbia, SC is roughly 43% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Honolulu, HI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $55,653 in Columbia, SC and $85,428 in Honolulu, HI — about 35% higher in Honolulu, HI. South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax; Hawaii has a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax.

Columbia, SC

Honolulu, HI

Rent

Studio

$802

$1,390

+73% in Honolulu, HI

1 Bedroom

$1,026

$1,570

+53% in Honolulu, HI

2 Bedroom

$1,164

$1,983

+70% in Honolulu, HI

3 Bedroom

$1,338

$2,433

+82% in Honolulu, HI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$243,500

$834,100

+243% in Honolulu, HI

Income

Median Household Income

$55,653

$85,428

+54% in Honolulu, HI

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$46,430

$57,220

+23% in Honolulu, HI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

28.7 yr

42.9 yr

+14.2 yr in Honolulu, HI

Homeownership

47.3%

48.6%

+1.3 pp in Honolulu, HI

Bachelor's+ (25+)

46.1%

40.8%

+5.3 pp in Columbia, SC

Avg Commute

17.4 min

22.3 min

+4.9 min in Honolulu, HI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

769.9

214.1

+72% in Columbia, SC

Property Crime

3,265.1

1,919.8

+41% in Columbia, SC

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

64.9°F

77.7°F

+12.8°F in Honolulu, HI

Annual Precipitation

45.4 in

17.1 in

+28.3 in in Columbia, SC

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$5.21/gal

+32% in Honolulu, HI

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$3.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.6

52.7

+239% in Honolulu, HI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$29.07

$66.84

+130% in Honolulu, HI

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.82

+20% in Honolulu, HI

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$2.04

+17% in Honolulu, HI

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Columbia, SC

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$7.36

+14% in Honolulu, HI

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.01

+6% in Honolulu, HI

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Honolulu, HI

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (SC / HI)

+2.0 pp in SC

Income Tax (top rate)

6.00%

11.00%

+5.0 pp in HI

Columbia vs Honolulu — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Columbia or Honolulu?: Columbia, SC is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,220 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 43% below Honolulu, HI's $2,150, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Columbia than in Honolulu?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year in Columbia versus $63,000 in Honolulu.
Which has lower taxes, Columbia or Honolulu?: Columbia is taxed under South Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% 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).