Is it cheaper to live in Honolulu or Houston?

Houston, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,360 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 37% below Honolulu, HI's $2,160, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $63,000 a year in Honolulu versus $46,000 in Houston.

Which has lower taxes, Honolulu or Houston?

Honolulu is taxed under Hawaii's rules (a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax); Houston under Texas's (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Honolulu vs Houston Cost of Living 2026

Honolulu

Hawaii

$2,160/mo est.

Houston

Texas

$1,360/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $2,160 in Honolulu, HI versus $1,360 in Houston, TX. Overall, Houston, TX is roughly 37% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Honolulu, HI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $85,428 in Honolulu, HI and $62,894 in Houston, TX — about 26% higher in Honolulu, HI. Hawaii has a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax; Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Honolulu, HI

Houston, TX

Rent

Studio

$1,390

$1,142

+18% in Honolulu, HI

1 Bedroom

$1,570

$1,156

+26% in Honolulu, HI

2 Bedroom

$1,983

$1,375

+31% in Honolulu, HI

3 Bedroom

$2,433

$1,664

+32% in Honolulu, HI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$834,100

$253,400

+70% in Honolulu, HI

Income

Median Household Income

$85,428

$62,894

+26% in Honolulu, HI

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$57,220

$49,410

+14% in Honolulu, HI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

42.9 yr

34.3 yr

+8.6 yr in Honolulu, HI

Homeownership

48.6%

42.0%

+6.6 pp in Honolulu, HI

Bachelor's+ (25+)

40.8%

36.0%

+4.8 pp in Honolulu, HI

Avg Commute

22.3 min

27.3 min

+5.0 min in Houston, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

214.1

1,153.8

+439% in Houston, TX

Property Crime

1,919.8

4,324.9

+125% in Houston, TX

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

77.7°F

70.3°F

+7.4°F in Honolulu, HI

Annual Precipitation

17.1 in

54.6 in

+37.5 in in Houston, TX

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$5.09/gal

$3.52/gal

+31% in Honolulu, HI

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs Houston.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$3.00

$1.25

+58% in Honolulu, HI

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

52.0

16.4

+68% in Honolulu, HI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$70.84

$30.48

+57% in Honolulu, HI

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

$4.00

+17% in Honolulu, HI

Bread (lb)

$2.04

$1.75

+14% in Honolulu, HI

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$2.21

+1% in Houston, TX

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.45

+12% in Honolulu, HI

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$1.90

+6% in Honolulu, HI

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.62

+12% in Honolulu, HI

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (HI / TX)

6.25%

+2.3 pp in TX

Income Tax (top rate)

11.00%

None

+11.0 pp in HI

Honolulu vs Houston — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Honolulu or Houston?: Houston, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,360 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 37% below Honolulu, HI's $2,160, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Honolulu than in Houston?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $63,000 a year in Honolulu versus $46,000 in Houston.
Which has lower taxes, Honolulu or Houston?: Honolulu is taxed under Hawaii's rules (a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax); Houston under Texas's (no state income tax and a 6.25% 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).