Is it cheaper to live in Honolulu or Phoenix?

Phoenix, AZ is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,430 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 30% below Honolulu, HI's $2,050, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $63,000 a year in Honolulu versus $50,000 in Phoenix.

Which has lower taxes, Honolulu or Phoenix?

Honolulu is taxed under Hawaii's rules (a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax); Phoenix under Arizona's (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax).

Honolulu vs Phoenix Cost of Living 2026

Honolulu

Hawaii

$2,050/mo est.

Phoenix

Arizona

$1,430/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 $1,430 in Phoenix, AZ. Overall, Phoenix, AZ is roughly 30% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Honolulu, HI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $85,428 in Honolulu, HI and $77,041 in Phoenix, AZ — about 10% higher in Honolulu, HI. Hawaii has a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax; Arizona has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax.

Honolulu, HI

Phoenix, AZ

Rent

Studio

$1,390

$1,127

+19% in Honolulu, HI

1 Bedroom

$1,570

$1,253

+20% in Honolulu, HI

2 Bedroom

$1,983

$1,493

+25% in Honolulu, HI

3 Bedroom

$2,433

$1,771

+27% in Honolulu, HI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$834,100

$381,900

+54% in Honolulu, HI

Income

Median Household Income

$85,428

$77,041

+10% in Honolulu, HI

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$57,220

$51,380

+10% in Honolulu, HI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

42.9 yr

34.8 yr

+8.1 yr in Honolulu, HI

Homeownership

48.6%

57.1%

+8.5 pp in Phoenix, AZ

Bachelor's+ (25+)

40.8%

32.3%

+8.5 pp in Honolulu, HI

Avg Commute

22.3 min

25.7 min

+3.4 min in Phoenix, AZ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

214.1

799.6

+273% in Phoenix, AZ

Property Crime

1,919.8

2,338.9

+22% in Phoenix, AZ

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

75.1°F

+2.6°F in Honolulu, HI

Annual Precipitation

17.1 in

8.2 in

+8.9 in in Honolulu, HI

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$5.57/gal

about equal

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$3.00

$2.00

+33% in Honolulu, HI

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

42.2

15.6

+63% in Honolulu, HI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$60.89

$19.69

+68% in Honolulu, HI

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.37

about equal

Bread (lb)

$2.10

about equal

Eggs (doz)

$2.25

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.23

about equal

Chicken (lb)

$2.14

about equal

Bananas (lb)

$0.74

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (HI / AZ)

5.6%

+1.6 pp in AZ

Income Tax (top rate)

11.00%

2.50%

+8.5 pp in HI

Honolulu vs Phoenix — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Honolulu or Phoenix?: Phoenix, AZ is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,430 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 30% below Honolulu, HI's $2,050, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Honolulu than in Phoenix?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $63,000 a year in Honolulu versus $50,000 in Phoenix.
Which has lower taxes, Honolulu or Phoenix?: Honolulu is taxed under Hawaii's rules (a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax); Phoenix under Arizona's (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% 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).