Is it cheaper to live in Honolulu or Missoula?

Missoula, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,100 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 49% below Honolulu, HI's $2,150, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $63,000 a year in Honolulu versus $38,000 in Missoula.

Which has lower taxes, Honolulu or Missoula?

Honolulu is taxed under Hawaii's rules (a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax); Missoula under Montana's (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax).

Honolulu vs Missoula Cost of Living 2026

Honolulu

Hawaii

$2,150/mo est.

Missoula

Montana

$1,100/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 $1,100 in Missoula, MT. Overall, Missoula, MT is roughly 49% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Honolulu, HI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $85,428 in Honolulu, HI and $65,329 in Missoula, MT — about 24% higher in Honolulu, HI. Hawaii has a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax; Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax.

Honolulu, HI

Missoula, MT

Rent

Studio

$1,390

$755

+46% in Honolulu, HI

1 Bedroom

$1,570

$953

+39% in Honolulu, HI

2 Bedroom

$1,983

$1,176

+41% in Honolulu, HI

3 Bedroom

$2,433

$1,676

+31% in Honolulu, HI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$834,100

$427,400

+49% in Honolulu, HI

Income

Median Household Income

$85,428

$65,329

+24% in Honolulu, HI

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$57,220

$47,830

+16% in Honolulu, HI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

42.9 yr

34.3 yr

+8.6 yr in Honolulu, HI

Homeownership

48.6%

47.8%

+0.8 pp in Honolulu, HI

Bachelor's+ (25+)

40.8%

51.7%

+10.9 pp in Missoula, MT

Avg Commute

22.3 min

16.6 min

+5.7 min in Honolulu, HI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

214.1

601.9

+181% in Missoula, MT

Property Crime

1,919.8

3,685.2

+92% in Missoula, MT

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

45.9°F

+31.8°F in Honolulu, HI

Annual Precipitation

17.1 in

14.1 in

+3.0 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

15.1

+71% in Honolulu, HI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$66.84

$10.12

+85% in Honolulu, HI

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

about equal

Bread (lb)

$2.04

about equal

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

about equal

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

about equal

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (HI / MT)

None

+4.0 pp in HI

Income Tax (top rate)

11.00%

5.65%

+5.3 pp in HI

Honolulu vs Missoula — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Honolulu or Missoula?: Missoula, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,100 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 49% below Honolulu, HI's $2,150, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Honolulu than in Missoula?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $63,000 a year in Honolulu versus $38,000 in Missoula.
Which has lower taxes, Honolulu or Missoula?: Honolulu is taxed under Hawaii's rules (a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax); Missoula under Montana's (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no 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).