Is it cheaper to live in Eugene or Honolulu?

Eugene, OR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,260 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 42% below Honolulu, HI's $2,160, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Eugene versus $63,000 in Honolulu.

Which has lower taxes, Eugene or Honolulu?

Eugene is taxed under Oregon's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax); Honolulu under Hawaii's (a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax).

Eugene vs Honolulu Cost of Living 2026

Eugene

Oregon

$1,260/mo est.

Honolulu

Hawaii

$2,160/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,260 in Eugene, OR versus $2,160 in Honolulu, HI. Overall, Eugene, OR is roughly 42% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Honolulu, HI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $63,836 in Eugene, OR and $85,428 in Honolulu, HI — about 25% higher in Honolulu, HI. Oregon has a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax; Hawaii has a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax.

Eugene, OR

Honolulu, HI

Rent

Studio

$1,011

$1,390

+37% in Honolulu, HI

1 Bedroom

$1,080

$1,570

+45% in Honolulu, HI

2 Bedroom

$1,411

$1,983

+41% in Honolulu, HI

3 Bedroom

$1,674

$2,433

+45% in Honolulu, HI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$435,400

$834,100

+92% in Honolulu, HI

Income

Median Household Income

$63,836

$85,428

+34% in Honolulu, HI

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,680

$57,220

+15% in Honolulu, HI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.4 yr

42.9 yr

+7.5 yr in Honolulu, HI

Homeownership

47.6%

48.6%

+1.0 pp in Honolulu, HI

Bachelor's+ (25+)

44.2%

40.8%

+3.4 pp in Eugene, OR

Avg Commute

18.6 min

22.3 min

+3.7 min in Honolulu, HI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

319.6

214.1

+33% in Eugene, OR

Property Crime

3,348.9

1,919.8

+43% in Eugene, OR

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

52.5°F

77.7°F

+25.2°F in Honolulu, HI

Annual Precipitation

46.1 in

17.1 in

+29.0 in in Eugene, OR

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$5.09/gal

about equal

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$3.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.3

52.0

+220% in Honolulu, HI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$20.59

$70.84

+244% in Honolulu, HI

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

about equal

Bread (lb)

$2.04

about equal

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

about equal

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

about equal

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (OR / HI)

None

+4.0 pp in HI

Income Tax (top rate)

9.90%

11.00%

+1.1 pp in HI

Eugene vs Honolulu — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Eugene or Honolulu?: Eugene, OR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,260 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 42% below Honolulu, HI's $2,160, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Eugene than in Honolulu?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Eugene versus $63,000 in Honolulu.
Which has lower taxes, Eugene or Honolulu?: Eugene is taxed under Oregon's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no 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).