Is it cheaper to live in Honolulu or Salem?

Salem, OR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,170 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 46% below Honolulu, HI's $2,160, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $63,000 a year in Honolulu versus $40,000 in Salem.

Which has lower taxes, Honolulu or Salem?

Honolulu is taxed under Hawaii's rules (a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax); Salem under Oregon's (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax).

Honolulu vs Salem Cost of Living 2026

Honolulu

Hawaii

$2,160/mo est.

Salem

Oregon

$1,170/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 $1,170 in Salem, OR. Overall, Salem, OR is roughly 46% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Honolulu, HI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $85,428 in Honolulu, HI and $71,900 in Salem, OR — about 16% higher in Honolulu, HI. Hawaii has a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax; Oregon has a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax.

Honolulu, HI

Salem, OR

Rent

Studio

$1,390

$1,075

+23% in Honolulu, HI

1 Bedroom

$1,570

$989

+37% in Honolulu, HI

2 Bedroom

$1,983

$1,337

+33% in Honolulu, HI

3 Bedroom

$2,433

$1,778

+27% in Honolulu, HI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$834,100

$382,400

+54% in Honolulu, HI

Income

Median Household Income

$85,428

$71,900

+16% in Honolulu, HI

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$57,220

$55,310

+3% in Honolulu, HI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

42.9 yr

35.7 yr

+7.2 yr in Honolulu, HI

Homeownership

48.6%

55.7%

+7.1 pp in Salem, OR

Bachelor's+ (25+)

40.8%

31.4%

+9.4 pp in Honolulu, HI

Avg Commute

22.3 min

22.4 min

+0.1 min in Salem, OR

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

214.1

540.6

+152% in Salem, OR

Property Crime

1,919.8

2,878.6

+50% in Salem, OR

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

53.0°F

+24.7°F in Honolulu, HI

Annual Precipitation

17.1 in

39.7 in

+22.6 in in Salem, OR

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

16.3

+69% in Honolulu, HI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$70.84

$20.59

+71% 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 / OR)

None

+4.0 pp in HI

Income Tax (top rate)

11.00%

9.90%

+1.1 pp in HI

Honolulu vs Salem — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Honolulu or Salem?: Salem, OR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,170 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 46% below Honolulu, HI's $2,160, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Honolulu than in Salem?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $63,000 a year in Honolulu versus $40,000 in Salem.
Which has lower taxes, Honolulu or Salem?: Honolulu is taxed under Hawaii's rules (a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax); Salem under Oregon's (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no 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).