Living Cost Compare
Honolulu

Hawaii

$2,150/mo est.

vs
South Burlington

Vermont

$1,790/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $2,150 in Honolulu, HI versus $1,790 in South Burlington, VT. Overall, South Burlington, VT is roughly 17% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Honolulu, HI, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $85,428 in Honolulu, HI and $97,229 in South Burlington, VT — about 12% higher in South Burlington, VT. Hawaii has a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax; Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Honolulu, HI
South Burlington, VT

Rent

Studio
$1,390
$1,557
+12% in South Burlington, VT
1 Bedroom
$1,570
$1,533
+2% in Honolulu, HI
2 Bedroom
$1,983
$1,805
+9% in Honolulu, HI
3 Bedroom
$2,433
$2,356
+3% in Honolulu, HI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$834,100
$399,600
+52% in Honolulu, HI

Income

Median Household Income
$85,428
$97,229
+14% in South Burlington, VT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$57,220
$60,020
+5% in South Burlington, VT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
42.9 yr
38.8 yr
+4.1 yr in Honolulu, HI
Homeownership
48.6%
60.1%
+11.5 pp in South Burlington, VT
Bachelor's+ (25+)
40.8%
65.1%
+24.3 pp in South Burlington, VT
Avg Commute
22.3 min
18.9 min
+3.4 min in Honolulu, HI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
214.1
239.4
+12% in South Burlington, VT
Property Crime
1,919.8
4,446
+132% in South Burlington, VT

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
46.0°F
+31.7°F in Honolulu, HI
Annual Precipitation
17.1 in
36.8 in
+19.7 in in South Burlington, VT

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.21/gal
$3.94/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)
52.7
24.4
+54% in Honolulu, HI
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$66.84
$26.07
+61% 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
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.90
+6% in Honolulu, HI
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$2.19
+9% in South Burlington, VT
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 / VT)
4%
6%
+2.0 pp in VT
Income Tax (top rate)
11.00%
8.75%
+2.3 pp in HI

Honolulu vs South Burlington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Honolulu or South Burlington?
South Burlington, VT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,790 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 17% below Honolulu, HI's $2,150, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Honolulu than in South Burlington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $63,000 a year in Honolulu versus $61,000 in South Burlington.
Which has lower taxes, Honolulu or South Burlington?
Honolulu is taxed under Hawaii's rules (a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax); South Burlington under Vermont's (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% 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).