Is it cheaper to live in Cranston or Honolulu?

Cranston, RI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,330 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 38% below Honolulu, HI's $2,150, mainly because of rent.

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

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

Which has lower taxes, Cranston or Honolulu?

Cranston is taxed under Rhode Island's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax); Honolulu under Hawaii's (a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax).

Cranston vs Honolulu Cost of Living 2026

Cranston

Rhode Island

$1,330/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 $1,330 in Cranston, RI versus $2,150 in Honolulu, HI. Overall, Cranston, RI is roughly 38% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Honolulu, HI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $87,716 in Cranston, RI and $85,428 in Honolulu, HI — about 3% higher in Cranston, RI. Rhode Island has a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax; Hawaii has a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax.

Cranston, RI

Honolulu, HI

Rent

Studio

—

$1,390

1 Bedroom

$1,032

$1,570

+52% in Honolulu, HI

2 Bedroom

$1,438

$1,983

+38% in Honolulu, HI

3 Bedroom

$1,688

$2,433

+44% in Honolulu, HI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$348,800

$834,100

+139% in Honolulu, HI

Income

Median Household Income

$87,716

$85,428

+3% in Cranston, RI

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$53,680

$57,220

+7% in Honolulu, HI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

40.1 yr

42.9 yr

+2.8 yr in Honolulu, HI

Homeownership

67.3%

48.6%

+18.7 pp in Cranston, RI

Bachelor's+ (25+)

35.8%

40.8%

+5.0 pp in Honolulu, HI

Avg Commute

23.8 min

22.3 min

+1.5 min in Cranston, RI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

93.1

214.1

+130% in Honolulu, HI

Property Crime

1,065.4

1,919.8

+80% 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

51.6°F

77.7°F

+26.1°F in Honolulu, HI

Annual Precipitation

47.2 in

17.1 in

+30.1 in in Cranston, RI

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)

29.2

52.7

+80% in Honolulu, HI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$25.75

$66.84

+160% 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)

$1.92

$2.04

+6% in Honolulu, HI

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$7.36

+7% in Honolulu, HI

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

$2.01

+8% in Cranston, RI

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

$0.70

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (RI / HI)

+3.0 pp in RI

Income Tax (top rate)

5.99%

11.00%

+5.0 pp in HI

Cranston vs Honolulu — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cranston or Honolulu?: Cranston, RI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,330 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 38% below Honolulu, HI's $2,150, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cranston than in Honolulu?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year in Cranston versus $63,000 in Honolulu.
Which has lower taxes, Cranston or Honolulu?: Cranston is taxed under Rhode Island's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% 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).