Is it cheaper to live in Honolulu or Huntington?

Huntington, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 56% below Honolulu, HI's $2,150, mainly because of rent.

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

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

Which has lower taxes, Honolulu or Huntington?

Honolulu is taxed under Hawaii's rules (a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax); Huntington under West Virginia's (a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax).

Honolulu vs Huntington Cost of Living 2026

Honolulu

Hawaii

$2,150/mo est.

Huntington

West Virginia

$940/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $2,150 in Honolulu, HI versus $940 in Huntington, WV. Overall, Huntington, WV is roughly 56% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Honolulu, HI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $85,428 in Honolulu, HI and $43,146 in Huntington, WV — about 49% higher in Honolulu, HI. Hawaii has a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax; West Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax.

Honolulu, HI

Huntington, WV

Rent

Studio

$1,390

$762

+45% in Honolulu, HI

1 Bedroom

$1,570

$758

+52% in Honolulu, HI

2 Bedroom

$1,983

$881

+56% in Honolulu, HI

3 Bedroom

$2,433

$1,121

+54% in Honolulu, HI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$834,100

$118,800

+86% in Honolulu, HI

Income

Median Household Income

$85,428

$43,146

+49% in Honolulu, HI

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$57,220

$44,600

+22% in Honolulu, HI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

42.9 yr

34.9 yr

+8.0 yr in Honolulu, HI

Homeownership

48.6%

52.5%

+3.9 pp in Huntington, WV

Bachelor's+ (25+)

40.8%

34.5%

+6.3 pp in Honolulu, HI

Avg Commute

22.3 min

18.6 min

+3.7 min in Honolulu, HI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

214.1

800.3

+274% in Huntington, WV

Property Crime

1,919.8

3,617.9

+88% in Huntington, WV

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

55.7°F

+22.0°F in Honolulu, HI

Annual Precipitation

17.1 in

42.6 in

+25.5 in in Huntington, WV

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$5.21/gal

$3.94/gal

+24% in Honolulu, HI

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$3.00

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

52.7

15.4

+71% in Honolulu, HI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$66.84

$24.68

+63% 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 Huntington, WV

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 / WV)

+2.0 pp in WV

Income Tax (top rate)

11.00%

4.82%

+6.2 pp in HI

Honolulu vs Huntington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Honolulu or Huntington?: Huntington, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 56% below Honolulu, HI's $2,150, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Honolulu than in Huntington?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $63,000 a year in Honolulu versus $30,000 in Huntington.
Which has lower taxes, Honolulu or Huntington?: Honolulu is taxed under Hawaii's rules (a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax); Huntington under West Virginia's (a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% 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).