Is it cheaper to live in Frederick or Honolulu?

Frederick, MD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,640 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 24% below Honolulu, HI's $2,160, mainly because of electricity costs.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $57,000 a year in Frederick versus $63,000 in Honolulu.

Which has lower taxes, Frederick or Honolulu?

Frederick is taxed under Maryland's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% 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).

Frederick vs Honolulu Cost of Living 2026

Frederick

Maryland

$1,640/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 $1,640 in Frederick, MD versus $2,160 in Honolulu, HI. Overall, Frederick, MD is roughly 24% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Honolulu, HI, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $95,150 in Frederick, MD and $85,428 in Honolulu, HI — about 10% higher in Frederick, MD. Maryland has a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax; Hawaii has a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax.

Frederick, MD

Honolulu, HI

Rent

Studio

$1,658

$1,390

+16% in Frederick, MD

1 Bedroom

$1,418

$1,570

+11% in Honolulu, HI

2 Bedroom

$1,661

$1,983

+19% in Honolulu, HI

3 Bedroom

$1,863

$2,433

+31% in Honolulu, HI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$365,200

$834,100

+128% in Honolulu, HI

Income

Median Household Income

$95,150

$85,428

+10% in Frederick, MD

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$71,060

$57,220

+19% in Frederick, MD

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

37.1 yr

42.9 yr

+5.8 yr in Honolulu, HI

Homeownership

59.2%

48.6%

+10.6 pp in Frederick, MD

Bachelor's+ (25+)

41.8%

40.8%

+1.0 pp in Frederick, MD

Avg Commute

30.1 min

22.3 min

+7.8 min in Frederick, MD

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

406

214.1

+47% in Frederick, MD

Property Crime

1,696.3

1,919.8

+13% 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

52.1°F

77.7°F

+25.6°F in Honolulu, HI

Annual Precipitation

—

17.1 in

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.86/gal

$5.09/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)

21.8

52.0

+139% in Honolulu, HI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$18.94

$70.84

+274% 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 Frederick, MD

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 (MD / HI)

+2.0 pp in MD

Income Tax (top rate)

6.50%

11.00%

+4.5 pp in HI

Frederick vs Honolulu — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Frederick or Honolulu?: Frederick, MD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,640 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 24% below Honolulu, HI's $2,160, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Frederick than in Honolulu?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $57,000 a year in Frederick versus $63,000 in Honolulu.
Which has lower taxes, Frederick or Honolulu?: Frederick is taxed under Maryland's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% 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).