Is it cheaper to live in Honolulu or Newark?

Newark, NJ is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,210 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 44% below Honolulu, HI's $2,160, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $63,000 a year in Honolulu versus $39,000 in Newark.

Which has lower taxes, Honolulu or Newark?

Honolulu is taxed under Hawaii's rules (a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax); Newark under New Jersey's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax).

Honolulu vs Newark Cost of Living 2026

Honolulu

Hawaii

$2,160/mo est.

Newark

New Jersey

$1,210/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 $1,210 in Newark, NJ. Overall, Newark, NJ is roughly 44% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Honolulu, HI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $85,428 in Honolulu, HI and $48,416 in Newark, NJ — about 43% higher in Honolulu, HI. Hawaii has a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax; New Jersey has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax.

Honolulu, HI

Newark, NJ

Rent

Studio

$1,390

$1,111

+20% in Honolulu, HI

1 Bedroom

$1,570

$978

+38% in Honolulu, HI

2 Bedroom

$1,983

$1,386

+30% in Honolulu, HI

3 Bedroom

$2,433

$1,695

+30% in Honolulu, HI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$834,100

$337,800

+60% in Honolulu, HI

Income

Median Household Income

$85,428

$48,416

+43% in Honolulu, HI

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$57,220

$61,430

+7% in Newark, NJ

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

42.9 yr

34.8 yr

+8.1 yr in Honolulu, HI

Homeownership

48.6%

24.1%

+24.5 pp in Honolulu, HI

Bachelor's+ (25+)

40.8%

17.4%

+23.4 pp in Honolulu, HI

Avg Commute

22.3 min

33.2 min

+10.9 min in Newark, NJ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

214.1

582.5

+172% in Newark, NJ

Property Crime

1,919.8

1,961.8

+2% in Newark, NJ

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

54.9°F

+22.8°F in Honolulu, HI

Annual Precipitation

17.1 in

46.3 in

+29.1 in in Newark, NJ

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$5.09/gal

$3.86/gal

+24% in Honolulu, HI

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$3.00

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

52.0

23.3

+55% in Honolulu, HI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$70.84

$15.93

+78% 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

$1.92

+6% in Honolulu, HI

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.90

+6% in Honolulu, HI

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$2.19

+9% in Newark, NJ

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.69

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (HI / NJ)

6.625%

+2.6 pp in NJ

Income Tax (top rate)

11.00%

10.75%

+0.3 pp in HI

Honolulu vs Newark — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Honolulu or Newark?: Newark, NJ is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,210 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 44% below Honolulu, HI's $2,160, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Honolulu than in Newark?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $63,000 a year in Honolulu versus $39,000 in Newark.
Which has lower taxes, Honolulu or Newark?: Honolulu is taxed under Hawaii's rules (a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax); Newark under New Jersey's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% 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).