Living Cost Compare
Honolulu

Hawaii

$2,050/mo est.

vs
Oklahoma City

Oklahoma

$1,030/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 $1,030 in Oklahoma City, OK. Overall, Oklahoma City, OK is roughly 50% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Honolulu, HI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $85,428 in Honolulu, HI and $66,702 in Oklahoma City, OK — about 22% higher in Honolulu, HI. Hawaii has a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax; Oklahoma has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax.

Honolulu, HI
Oklahoma City, OK

Rent

Studio
$1,390
$795
+43% in Honolulu, HI
1 Bedroom
$1,570
$882
+44% in Honolulu, HI
2 Bedroom
$1,983
$1,085
+45% in Honolulu, HI
3 Bedroom
$2,433
$1,356
+44% in Honolulu, HI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$834,100
$215,100
+74% in Honolulu, HI

Income

Median Household Income
$85,428
$66,702
+22% in Honolulu, HI
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$57,220
$47,230
+17% in Honolulu, HI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
42.9 yr
35.0 yr
+7.9 yr in Honolulu, HI
Homeownership
48.6%
59.1%
+10.5 pp in Oklahoma City, OK
Bachelor's+ (25+)
40.8%
34.0%
+6.8 pp in Honolulu, HI
Avg Commute
22.3 min
22.2 min
+0.1 min in Honolulu, HI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
214.1
685.6
+220% in Oklahoma City, OK
Property Crime
1,919.8
2,928.9
+53% in Oklahoma City, OK

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
61.5°F
+16.2°F in Honolulu, HI
Annual Precipitation
17.1 in
36.5 in
+19.4 in in Oklahoma City, OK

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.57/gal
$4.35/gal
+22% in Honolulu, HI

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$3.00
$1.75
+42% in Honolulu, HI

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
42.2
13.6
+68% in Honolulu, HI
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$60.89
$15.95
+74% in Honolulu, HI

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.37
$4.16
+5% in Honolulu, HI
Bread (lb)
$2.10
$1.73
+18% in Honolulu, HI
Eggs (doz)
$2.25
$2.19
+3% in Honolulu, HI
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.23
$6.56
+9% in Honolulu, HI
Chicken (lb)
$2.14
$1.90
+11% in Honolulu, HI
Bananas (lb)
$0.74
$0.61
+17% in Honolulu, HI

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (HI / OK)
4%
4.5%
+0.5 pp in OK
Income Tax (top rate)
11.00%
4.50%
+6.5 pp in HI

Honolulu vs Oklahoma City — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Honolulu or Oklahoma City?
Oklahoma City, OK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 50% below Honolulu, HI's $2,050, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Honolulu than in Oklahoma City?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $63,000 a year in Honolulu versus $35,000 in Oklahoma City.
Which has lower taxes, Honolulu or Oklahoma City?
Honolulu is taxed under Hawaii's rules (a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax); Oklahoma City under Oklahoma's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% 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).