Is it cheaper to live in Honolulu or Reno?

Reno, NV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,350 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 38% below Honolulu, HI's $2,160, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $63,000 a year in Honolulu versus $48,000 in Reno.

Which has lower taxes, Honolulu or Reno?

Honolulu is taxed under Hawaii's rules (a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax); Reno under Nevada's (no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax).

Honolulu vs Reno Cost of Living 2026

Honolulu

Hawaii

$2,160/mo est.

Reno

Nevada

$1,350/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 $1,350 in Reno, NV. Overall, Reno, NV is roughly 38% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Honolulu, HI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $85,428 in Honolulu, HI and $78,448 in Reno, NV — about 8% higher in Honolulu, HI. Hawaii has a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax; Nevada has no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax.

Honolulu, HI

Reno, NV

Rent

Studio

$1,390

$964

+31% in Honolulu, HI

1 Bedroom

$1,570

$1,206

+23% in Honolulu, HI

2 Bedroom

$1,983

$1,518

+23% in Honolulu, HI

3 Bedroom

$2,433

$1,885

+23% in Honolulu, HI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$834,100

$498,600

+40% in Honolulu, HI

Income

Median Household Income

$85,428

$78,448

+8% in Honolulu, HI

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$57,220

$49,660

+13% in Honolulu, HI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

42.9 yr

37.3 yr

+5.6 yr in Honolulu, HI

Homeownership

48.6%

49.4%

+0.8 pp in Reno, NV

Bachelor's+ (25+)

40.8%

35.7%

+5.1 pp in Honolulu, HI

Avg Commute

22.3 min

20.6 min

+1.7 min in Honolulu, HI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

214.1

528.9

+147% in Reno, NV

Property Crime

1,919.8

2,489.3

+30% in Reno, NV

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

53.8°F

+23.9°F in Honolulu, HI

Annual Precipitation

17.1 in

7.4 in

+9.7 in in Honolulu, HI

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$5.09/gal

about equal

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$3.00

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

52.0

13.6

+74% in Honolulu, HI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$70.84

$12.09

+83% in Honolulu, HI

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

about equal

Bread (lb)

$2.04

about equal

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

about equal

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

about equal

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (HI / NV)

6.85%

+2.8 pp in NV

Income Tax (top rate)

11.00%

None

+11.0 pp in HI

Honolulu vs Reno — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Honolulu or Reno?: Reno, NV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,350 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 38% below Honolulu, HI's $2,160, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Honolulu than in Reno?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $63,000 a year in Honolulu versus $48,000 in Reno.
Which has lower taxes, Honolulu or Reno?: Honolulu is taxed under Hawaii's rules (a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax); Reno under Nevada's (no state income tax and a 6.85% 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).