Living Cost Compare
Honolulu

Hawaii

$2,050/mo est.

vs
San Diego

California

$2,210/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 $2,210 in San Diego, CA. Overall, Honolulu, HI is roughly 7% cheaper to live in day-to-day than San Diego, CA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $85,428 in Honolulu, HI and $104,321 in San Diego, CA — about 18% higher in San Diego, CA. Hawaii has a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax; California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax.

Honolulu, HI
San Diego, CA

Rent

Studio
$1,390
$1,737
+25% in San Diego, CA
1 Bedroom
$1,570
$1,883
+20% in San Diego, CA
2 Bedroom
$1,983
$2,348
+18% in San Diego, CA
3 Bedroom
$2,433
$2,818
+16% in San Diego, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$834,100
$848,500
+2% in San Diego, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$85,428
$104,321
+22% in San Diego, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$57,220
$58,690
+3% in San Diego, CA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
42.9 yr
36.0 yr
+6.9 yr in Honolulu, HI
Homeownership
48.6%
47.6%
+1.0 pp in Honolulu, HI
Bachelor's+ (25+)
40.8%
49.9%
+9.1 pp in San Diego, CA
Avg Commute
22.3 min
23.9 min
+1.6 min in San Diego, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
214.1
414.1
+93% in San Diego, CA
Property Crime
1,919.8
1,693.1
+12% 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
63.6°F
+14.1°F in Honolulu, HI
Annual Precipitation
17.1 in
10.3 in
+6.8 in in Honolulu, HI

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.57/gal
$5.91/gal
+6% in San Diego, CA

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs California.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$3.00
$2.50
+17% in Honolulu, HI

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
42.2
33.4
+21% in Honolulu, HI
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$60.89
$20.72
+66% in Honolulu, HI

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.37
$4.37
about equal
Bread (lb)
$2.10
$2.10
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.25
$2.25
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.23
$7.23
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.14
$2.14
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.74
$0.74
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (HI / CA)
4%
7.25%
+3.3 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
11.00%
13.30%
+2.3 pp in CA

Honolulu vs San Diego — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Honolulu or San Diego?
Honolulu, HI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $2,050 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 7% below San Diego, CA's $2,210, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Honolulu than in San Diego?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $63,000 a year in Honolulu versus $75,000 in San Diego.
Which has lower taxes, Honolulu or San Diego?
Honolulu is taxed under Hawaii's rules (a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax); San Diego under California's (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% 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).