Living Cost Compare
El Paso

Texas

$1,010/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 $1,010 in El Paso, TX versus $2,050 in Honolulu, HI. Overall, El Paso, TX is roughly 51% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Honolulu, HI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $58,734 in El Paso, TX and $85,428 in Honolulu, HI — about 31% higher in Honolulu, HI. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax; Hawaii has a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax.

El Paso, TX
Honolulu, HI

Rent

Studio
$707
$1,390
+97% in Honolulu, HI
1 Bedroom
$816
$1,570
+92% in Honolulu, HI
2 Bedroom
$993
$1,983
+100% in Honolulu, HI
3 Bedroom
$1,252
$2,433
+94% in Honolulu, HI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$171,700
$834,100
+386% in Honolulu, HI

Income

Median Household Income
$58,734
$85,428
+45% in Honolulu, HI
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$39,510
$57,220
+45% in Honolulu, HI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.1 yr
42.9 yr
+8.8 yr in Honolulu, HI
Homeownership
60.2%
48.6%
+11.6 pp in El Paso, TX
Bachelor's+ (25+)
27.5%
40.8%
+13.3 pp in Honolulu, HI
Avg Commute
23.7 min
22.3 min
+1.4 min in El Paso, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
319.7
214.1
+33% in El Paso, TX
Property Crime
1,509.3
1,919.8
+27% 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
64.6°F
77.7°F
+13.1°F in Honolulu, HI
Annual Precipitation
9.7 in
17.1 in
+7.4 in in Honolulu, HI

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.96/gal
$5.57/gal
+41% in Honolulu, HI

Area: Texas vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.50
$3.00
+100% in Honolulu, HI

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.4
42.2
+158% in Honolulu, HI
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.61
$60.89
+147% in Honolulu, HI

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.16
$4.37
+5% in Honolulu, HI
Bread (lb)
$1.73
$2.10
+21% in Honolulu, HI
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.25
+3% in Honolulu, HI
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.56
$7.23
+10% in Honolulu, HI
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.14
+12% in Honolulu, HI
Bananas (lb)
$0.61
$0.74
+21% in Honolulu, HI

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (TX / HI)
6.25%
4%
+2.3 pp in TX
Income Tax (top rate)
None
11.00%
+11.0 pp in HI

El Paso vs Honolulu — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in El Paso or Honolulu?
El Paso, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,010 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 51% below Honolulu, HI's $2,050, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in El Paso than in Honolulu?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in El Paso versus $63,000 in Honolulu.
Which has lower taxes, El Paso or Honolulu?
El Paso is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax 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).