Living Cost Compare
Honolulu

Hawaii

$2,160/mo est.

vs
Las Cruces

New Mexico

$940/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 $940 in Las Cruces, NM. Overall, Las Cruces, NM 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 $55,176 in Las Cruces, NM — about 35% higher in Honolulu, HI. Hawaii has a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax; New Mexico has a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax.

Honolulu, HI
Las Cruces, NM

Rent

Studio
$1,390
$597
+57% in Honolulu, HI
1 Bedroom
$1,570
$793
+49% in Honolulu, HI
2 Bedroom
$1,983
$888
+55% in Honolulu, HI
3 Bedroom
$2,433
$1,177
+52% in Honolulu, HI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$834,100
$217,400
+74% in Honolulu, HI

Income

Median Household Income
$85,428
$55,176
+35% in Honolulu, HI
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$57,220
$42,070
+26% in Honolulu, HI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
42.9 yr
32.7 yr
+10.2 yr in Honolulu, HI
Homeownership
48.6%
55.6%
+7.0 pp in Las Cruces, NM
Bachelor's+ (25+)
40.8%
37.3%
+3.5 pp in Honolulu, HI
Avg Commute
22.3 min
18.7 min
+3.6 min in Honolulu, HI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
214.1
726
+239% in Las Cruces, NM
Property Crime
1,919.8
4,899.2
+155% in Las Cruces, NM

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
58.8°F
+18.9°F in Honolulu, HI
Annual Precipitation
17.1 in
—

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.09/gal
$3.62/gal
+29% in Honolulu, HI

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$3.00
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
52.0
14.1
+73% in Honolulu, HI
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$70.84
$11.90
+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 / NM)
4%
4.875%
+0.9 pp in NM
Income Tax (top rate)
11.00%
5.90%
+5.1 pp in HI

Honolulu vs Las Cruces — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Honolulu or Las Cruces?
Las Cruces, NM is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 56% below Honolulu, HI's $2,160, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Honolulu than in Las Cruces?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $63,000 a year in Honolulu versus $32,000 in Las Cruces.
Which has lower taxes, Honolulu or Las Cruces?
Honolulu is taxed under Hawaii's rules (a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax); Las Cruces under New Mexico's (a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% 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).