Living Cost Compare
Des Moines

Iowa

$1,020/mo est.

vs
Honolulu

Hawaii

$2,160/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,020 in Des Moines, IA versus $2,160 in Honolulu, HI. Overall, Des Moines, IA is roughly 53% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Honolulu, HI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $63,966 in Des Moines, IA and $85,428 in Honolulu, HI — about 25% higher in Honolulu, HI. Iowa has a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax; Hawaii has a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax.

Des Moines, IA
Honolulu, HI

Rent

Studio
$870
$1,390
+60% in Honolulu, HI
1 Bedroom
$870
$1,570
+80% in Honolulu, HI
2 Bedroom
$1,099
$1,983
+80% in Honolulu, HI
3 Bedroom
$1,334
$2,433
+82% in Honolulu, HI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$183,700
$834,100
+354% in Honolulu, HI

Income

Median Household Income
$63,966
$85,428
+34% in Honolulu, HI
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,820
$57,220
+10% in Honolulu, HI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.6 yr
42.9 yr
+8.3 yr in Honolulu, HI
Homeownership
60.4%
48.6%
+11.8 pp in Des Moines, IA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
29.0%
40.8%
+11.8 pp in Honolulu, HI
Avg Commute
19.6 min
22.3 min
+2.7 min in Honolulu, HI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
707.3
214.1
+70% in Des Moines, IA
Property Crime
3,156.6
1,919.8
+39% in Des Moines, IA

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
50.9°F
77.7°F
+26.8°F in Honolulu, HI
Annual Precipitation
36.0 in
17.1 in
+18.9 in in Des Moines, IA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$5.09/gal
+29% in Honolulu, HI

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$3.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.1
52.0
+268% in Honolulu, HI
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$15.72
$70.84
+351% 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)
$1.66
$2.04
+23% in Honolulu, HI
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.19
+40% in Des Moines, IA
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$7.36
+9% in Honolulu, HI
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.01
+4% in Des Moines, IA
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.70
+14% in Honolulu, HI

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IA / HI)
6%
4%
+2.0 pp in IA
Income Tax (top rate)
3.80%
11.00%
+7.2 pp in HI

Des Moines vs Honolulu — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Des Moines or Honolulu?
Des Moines, IA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 53% below Honolulu, HI's $2,160, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Des Moines than in Honolulu?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Des Moines versus $63,000 in Honolulu.
Which has lower taxes, Des Moines or Honolulu?
Des Moines is taxed under Iowa's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.80% 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).