Is it cheaper to live in Green Bay or Honolulu?

Green Bay, WI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $920 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 57% below Honolulu, HI's $2,160, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Green Bay versus $63,000 in Honolulu.

Which has lower taxes, Green Bay or Honolulu?

Green Bay is taxed under Wisconsin's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax); Honolulu under Hawaii's (a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax).

Green Bay vs Honolulu Cost of Living 2026

Green Bay

Wisconsin

$920/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 $920 in Green Bay, WI versus $2,160 in Honolulu, HI. Overall, Green Bay, WI is roughly 57% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Honolulu, HI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $62,546 in Green Bay, WI and $85,428 in Honolulu, HI — about 27% higher in Honolulu, HI. Wisconsin has a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax; Hawaii has a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax.

Green Bay, WI

Honolulu, HI

Rent

Studio

$707

$1,390

+97% in Honolulu, HI

1 Bedroom

$730

$1,570

+115% in Honolulu, HI

2 Bedroom

$956

$1,983

+107% in Honolulu, HI

3 Bedroom

$1,287

$2,433

+89% in Honolulu, HI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$191,500

$834,100

+336% in Honolulu, HI

Income

Median Household Income

$62,546

$85,428

+37% in Honolulu, HI

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,940

$57,220

+15% in Honolulu, HI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.7 yr

42.9 yr

+7.2 yr in Honolulu, HI

Homeownership

55.9%

48.6%

+7.3 pp in Green Bay, WI

Bachelor's+ (25+)

25.5%

40.8%

+15.3 pp in Honolulu, HI

Avg Commute

18.9 min

22.3 min

+3.4 min in Honolulu, HI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

501.7

214.1

+57% in Green Bay, WI

Property Crime

1,331.2

1,919.8

+44% 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

44.3°F

77.7°F

+33.4°F in Honolulu, HI

Annual Precipitation

29.5 in

17.1 in

+12.4 in in Green Bay, WI

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)

19.7

52.0

+163% in Honolulu, HI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$11.79

$70.84

+501% 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 Green Bay, WI

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$7.36

+9% in Honolulu, HI

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.01

+4% in Green Bay, WI

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 (WI / HI)

+1.0 pp in WI

Income Tax (top rate)

7.65%

11.00%

+3.3 pp in HI

Green Bay vs Honolulu — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Green Bay or Honolulu?: Green Bay, WI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $920 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 57% below Honolulu, HI's $2,160, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Green Bay than in Honolulu?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Green Bay versus $63,000 in Honolulu.
Which has lower taxes, Green Bay or Honolulu?: Green Bay is taxed under Wisconsin's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% 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).