Is it cheaper to live in Honolulu or Providence?

Providence, RI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,310 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 39% below Honolulu, HI's $2,160, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $63,000 a year in Honolulu versus $41,000 in Providence.

Which has lower taxes, Honolulu or Providence?

Honolulu is taxed under Hawaii's rules (a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax); Providence under Rhode Island's (a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax).

Honolulu vs Providence Cost of Living 2026

Honolulu

Hawaii

$2,160/mo est.

Providence

Rhode Island

$1,310/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 $1,310 in Providence, RI. Overall, Providence, RI is roughly 39% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Honolulu, HI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $85,428 in Honolulu, HI and $66,772 in Providence, RI — about 22% higher in Honolulu, HI. Hawaii has a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax; Rhode Island has a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax.

Honolulu, HI

Providence, RI

Rent

Studio

$1,390

$1,116

+20% in Honolulu, HI

1 Bedroom

$1,570

$1,030

+34% in Honolulu, HI

2 Bedroom

$1,983

$1,323

+33% in Honolulu, HI

3 Bedroom

$2,433

$1,627

+33% in Honolulu, HI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$834,100

$322,800

+61% in Honolulu, HI

Income

Median Household Income

$85,428

$66,772

+22% in Honolulu, HI

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$57,220

$53,680

+6% in Honolulu, HI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

42.9 yr

32.9 yr

+10.0 yr in Honolulu, HI

Homeownership

48.6%

41.2%

+7.4 pp in Honolulu, HI

Bachelor's+ (25+)

40.8%

34.7%

+6.1 pp in Honolulu, HI

Avg Commute

22.3 min

25.0 min

+2.7 min in Providence, RI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

214.1

282.4

+32% in Providence, RI

Property Crime

1,919.8

1,665.6

+13% in Honolulu, HI

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

51.6°F

+26.1°F in Honolulu, HI

Annual Precipitation

17.1 in

47.2 in

+30.1 in in Providence, RI

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

29.5

+43% in Honolulu, HI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$70.84

$16.06

+77% 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 Providence, RI

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 / RI)

+3.0 pp in RI

Income Tax (top rate)

11.00%

5.99%

+5.0 pp in HI

Honolulu vs Providence — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Honolulu or Providence?: Providence, RI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,310 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 39% below Honolulu, HI's $2,160, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Honolulu than in Providence?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $63,000 a year in Honolulu versus $41,000 in Providence.
Which has lower taxes, Honolulu or Providence?: Honolulu is taxed under Hawaii's rules (a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax); Providence under Rhode Island's (a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% 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).