Is it cheaper to live in Honolulu or Las Vegas?

Las Vegas, NV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,320 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 36% below Honolulu, HI's $2,050, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $63,000 a year in Honolulu versus $47,000 in Las Vegas.

Which has lower taxes, Honolulu or Las Vegas?

Honolulu is taxed under Hawaii's rules (a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax); Las Vegas under Nevada's (no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax).

Honolulu vs Las Vegas Cost of Living 2026

Honolulu

Hawaii

$2,050/mo est.

Las Vegas

Nevada

$1,320/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $2,050 in Honolulu, HI versus $1,320 in Las Vegas, NV. Overall, Las Vegas, NV is roughly 36% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Honolulu, HI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $85,428 in Honolulu, HI and $70,723 in Las Vegas, NV — about 17% higher in Honolulu, HI. Hawaii has a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax; Nevada has no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax.

Honolulu, HI

Las Vegas, NV

Rent

Studio

$1,390

$992

+29% in Honolulu, HI

1 Bedroom

$1,570

$1,181

+25% in Honolulu, HI

2 Bedroom

$1,983

$1,401

+29% in Honolulu, HI

3 Bedroom

$2,433

$1,740

+28% in Honolulu, HI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$834,100

$395,300

+53% in Honolulu, HI

Income

Median Household Income

$85,428

$70,723

+17% in Honolulu, HI

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$57,220

$46,670

+18% in Honolulu, HI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

42.9 yr

38.5 yr

+4.4 yr in Honolulu, HI

Homeownership

48.6%

55.7%

+7.1 pp in Las Vegas, NV

Bachelor's+ (25+)

40.8%

27.3%

+13.5 pp in Honolulu, HI

Avg Commute

22.3 min

25.8 min

+3.5 min in Las Vegas, NV

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

214.1

433.1

+102% in Las Vegas, NV

Property Crime

1,919.8

2,641.7

+38% in Las Vegas, NV

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

68.4°F

+9.3°F in Honolulu, HI

Annual Precipitation

17.1 in

5.4 in

+11.7 in in Honolulu, HI

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$5.57/gal

about equal

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$3.00

$2.00

+33% in Honolulu, HI

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

42.2

14.2

+66% in Honolulu, HI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$60.89

$10.04

+84% in Honolulu, HI

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.37

about equal

Bread (lb)

$2.10

about equal

Eggs (doz)

$2.25

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.23

about equal

Chicken (lb)

$2.14

about equal

Bananas (lb)

$0.74

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (HI / NV)

6.85%

+2.8 pp in NV

Income Tax (top rate)

11.00%

None

+11.0 pp in HI

Honolulu vs Las Vegas — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Honolulu or Las Vegas?: Las Vegas, NV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,320 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 36% below Honolulu, HI's $2,050, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Honolulu than in Las Vegas?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $63,000 a year in Honolulu versus $47,000 in Las Vegas.
Which has lower taxes, Honolulu or Las Vegas?: Honolulu is taxed under Hawaii's rules (a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax); Las Vegas under Nevada's (no state income tax and a 6.85% 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).