Living Cost Compare
Honolulu

Hawaii

$2,160/mo est.

vs
Rochester

Minnesota

$1,280/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 $1,280 in Rochester, MN. Overall, Rochester, MN is roughly 41% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Honolulu, HI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $85,428 in Honolulu, HI and $87,767 in Rochester, MN — about 3% higher in Rochester, MN. Hawaii has a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax; Minnesota has a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax.

Honolulu, HI
Rochester, MN

Rent

Studio
$1,390
$1,080
+22% in Honolulu, HI
1 Bedroom
$1,570
$1,106
+30% in Honolulu, HI
2 Bedroom
$1,983
$1,243
+37% in Honolulu, HI
3 Bedroom
$2,433
$1,646
+32% in Honolulu, HI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$834,100
$287,500
+66% in Honolulu, HI

Income

Median Household Income
$85,428
$87,767
+3% in Rochester, MN
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$57,220
$60,620
+6% in Rochester, MN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
42.9 yr
36.4 yr
+6.5 yr in Honolulu, HI
Homeownership
48.6%
65.4%
+16.8 pp in Rochester, MN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
40.8%
50.1%
+9.3 pp in Rochester, MN
Avg Commute
22.3 min
17.2 min
+5.1 min in Honolulu, HI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
214.1
158.9
+26% in Honolulu, HI
Property Crime
1,919.8
1,379
+28% 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
45.4°F
+32.3°F in Honolulu, HI
Annual Precipitation
17.1 in
33.0 in
+15.9 in in Rochester, MN

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.09/gal
$3.95/gal
+22% in Honolulu, HI

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs Minnesota.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$3.00
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
52.0
16.9
+67% in Honolulu, HI
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$70.84
$14.95
+79% 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
$1.66
+19% in Honolulu, HI
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$3.63
+66% in Rochester, MN
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.77
+8% in Honolulu, HI
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$2.10
+4% in Rochester, MN
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.62
+12% in Honolulu, HI

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (HI / MN)
4%
6.875%
+2.9 pp in MN
Income Tax (top rate)
11.00%
9.85%
+1.2 pp in HI

Honolulu vs Rochester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Honolulu or Rochester?
Rochester, MN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,280 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 41% below Honolulu, HI's $2,160, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Honolulu than in Rochester?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $63,000 a year in Honolulu versus $44,000 in Rochester.
Which has lower taxes, Honolulu or Rochester?
Honolulu is taxed under Hawaii's rules (a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax); Rochester under Minnesota's (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% 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).