Is it cheaper to live in Honolulu or New York City?

New York City, NY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,990 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 3% below Honolulu, HI's $2,050, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Honolulu than in New York City?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $63,000 a year in Honolulu versus $68,000 in New York City.

Which has lower taxes, Honolulu or New York City?

Honolulu is taxed under Hawaii's rules (a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax); New York City under New York's (a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax).

Honolulu vs New York City Cost of Living 2026

Honolulu

Hawaii

$2,050/mo est.

New York City

New York

$1,990/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 $1,990 in New York City, NY. Overall, New York City, NY is roughly 3% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Honolulu, HI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $85,428 in Honolulu, HI and $79,713 in New York City, NY — about 7% higher in Honolulu, HI. Hawaii has a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax; New York has a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax.

Honolulu, HI

New York City, NY

Rent

Studio

$1,390

$1,633

+17% in New York City, NY

1 Bedroom

$1,570

$1,705

+9% in New York City, NY

2 Bedroom

$1,983

$1,781

+10% in Honolulu, HI

3 Bedroom

$2,433

$2,065

+15% in Honolulu, HI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$834,100

$751,700

+10% in Honolulu, HI

Income

Median Household Income

$85,428

$79,713

+7% in Honolulu, HI

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$57,220

$61,430

+7% in New York City, NY

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

42.9 yr

38.0 yr

+4.9 yr in Honolulu, HI

Homeownership

48.6%

32.8%

+15.8 pp in Honolulu, HI

Bachelor's+ (25+)

40.8%

41.0%

+0.2 pp in New York City, NY

Avg Commute

22.3 min

40.6 min

+18.3 min in New York City, NY

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

214.1

690.9

+223% in New York City, NY

Property Crime

1,919.8

2,413.5

+26% in New York City, NY

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

55.0°F

+22.7°F in Honolulu, HI

Annual Precipitation

17.1 in

49.9 in

+32.8 in in New York City, NY

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$5.57/gal

$4.44/gal

+20% in Honolulu, HI

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs New York City.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$3.00

about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

42.2

28.6

+32% in Honolulu, HI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$60.89

$18.90

+69% in Honolulu, HI

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.37

$4.14

+5% in Honolulu, HI

Bread (lb)

$2.10

$1.92

+9% in Honolulu, HI

Eggs (doz)

$2.25

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.23

$6.90

+5% in Honolulu, HI

Chicken (lb)

$2.14

$2.02

+5% in Honolulu, HI

Bananas (lb)

$0.74

$0.68

+9% in Honolulu, HI

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (HI / NY)

about equal

Income Tax (top rate)

11.00%

10.90%

+0.1 pp in HI

Honolulu vs New York City — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Honolulu or New York City?: New York City, NY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,990 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 3% below Honolulu, HI's $2,050, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Honolulu than in New York City?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $63,000 a year in Honolulu versus $68,000 in New York City.
Which has lower taxes, Honolulu or New York City?: Honolulu is taxed under Hawaii's rules (a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax); New York City under New York's (a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% 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).