Living Cost Compare
Honolulu

Hawaii

$2,160/mo est.

vs
Madison

Wisconsin

$1,410/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 $1,410 in Madison, WI. Overall, Madison, WI is roughly 35% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Honolulu, HI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $85,428 in Honolulu, HI and $76,983 in Madison, WI — about 10% higher in Honolulu, HI. Hawaii has a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax; Wisconsin has a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax.

Honolulu, HI
Madison, WI

Rent

Studio
$1,390
$1,018
+27% in Honolulu, HI
1 Bedroom
$1,570
$1,219
+22% in Honolulu, HI
2 Bedroom
$1,983
$1,432
+28% in Honolulu, HI
3 Bedroom
$2,433
$1,766
+27% in Honolulu, HI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$834,100
$346,900
+58% in Honolulu, HI

Income

Median Household Income
$85,428
$76,983
+10% in Honolulu, HI
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$57,220
$58,080
+2% in Madison, WI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
42.9 yr
31.8 yr
+11.1 yr in Honolulu, HI
Homeownership
48.6%
46.6%
+2.0 pp in Honolulu, HI
Bachelor's+ (25+)
40.8%
59.2%
+18.4 pp in Madison, WI
Avg Commute
22.3 min
19.4 min
+2.9 min in Honolulu, HI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
214.1
259.5
+21% in Madison, WI
Property Crime
1,919.8
1,884.5
+2% 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
46.5°F
+31.2°F in Honolulu, HI
Annual Precipitation
17.1 in
34.5 in
+17.4 in in Madison, WI

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.09/gal
$3.94/gal
+23% in Honolulu, HI

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$3.00
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
52.0
19.7
+62% in Honolulu, HI
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$70.84
$11.79
+83% in Honolulu, HI

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.31
+10% in Honolulu, HI
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$1.66
+19% in Honolulu, HI
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$3.63
+66% in Madison, WI
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.77
+8% in Honolulu, HI
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$2.10
+4% in Madison, WI
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.62
+12% in Honolulu, HI

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (HI / WI)
4%
5%
+1.0 pp in WI
Income Tax (top rate)
11.00%
7.65%
+3.3 pp in HI

Honolulu vs Madison — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Honolulu or Madison?
Madison, WI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,410 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 35% below Honolulu, HI's $2,160, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Honolulu than in Madison?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $63,000 a year in Honolulu versus $49,000 in Madison.
Which has lower taxes, Honolulu or Madison?
Honolulu is taxed under Hawaii's rules (a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax); Madison under Wisconsin's (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% 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).