Living Cost Compare
Honolulu

Hawaii

$2,150/mo est.

vs
Idaho Falls

Idaho

$970/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 $970 in Idaho Falls, ID. Overall, Idaho Falls, ID is roughly 55% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Honolulu, HI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $85,428 in Honolulu, HI and $69,630 in Idaho Falls, ID — about 18% higher in Honolulu, HI. Hawaii has a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax; Idaho has a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax.

Honolulu, HI
Idaho Falls, ID

Rent

Studio
$1,390
$818
+41% in Honolulu, HI
1 Bedroom
$1,570
$827
+47% in Honolulu, HI
2 Bedroom
$1,983
$957
+52% in Honolulu, HI
3 Bedroom
$2,433
$1,278
+47% in Honolulu, HI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$834,100
$298,600
+64% in Honolulu, HI

Income

Median Household Income
$85,428
$69,630
+18% in Honolulu, HI
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$57,220
$46,800
+18% in Honolulu, HI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
42.9 yr
33.5 yr
+9.4 yr in Honolulu, HI
Homeownership
48.6%
64.1%
+15.5 pp in Idaho Falls, ID
Bachelor's+ (25+)
40.8%
31.0%
+9.8 pp in Honolulu, HI
Avg Commute
22.3 min
18.2 min
+4.1 min in Honolulu, HI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
214.1
365.3
+71% in Idaho Falls, ID
Property Crime
1,919.8
1,235.5
+36% 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
77.7°F
44.2°F
+33.5°F in Honolulu, HI
Annual Precipitation
17.1 in
10.4 in
+6.7 in in Honolulu, HI

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.21/gal
$4.27/gal
+18% in Honolulu, HI

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$3.00
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
52.7
14.4
+73% in Honolulu, HI
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$66.84
$11.33
+83% in Honolulu, HI

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.82
about equal
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$2.04
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$7.36
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$2.01
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.70
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (HI / ID)
4%
6%
+2.0 pp in ID
Income Tax (top rate)
11.00%
5.30%
+5.7 pp in HI

Honolulu vs Idaho Falls — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Honolulu or Idaho Falls?
Idaho Falls, ID is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $970 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 55% below Honolulu, HI's $2,150, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Honolulu than in Idaho Falls?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $63,000 a year in Honolulu versus $33,000 in Idaho Falls.
Which has lower taxes, Honolulu or Idaho Falls?
Honolulu is taxed under Hawaii's rules (a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax); Idaho Falls under Idaho's (a top state income tax rate of 5.30% 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).