Is it cheaper to live in Honolulu or Topeka?

Topeka, KS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 56% below Honolulu, HI's $2,150, mainly because of rent.

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

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

Which has lower taxes, Honolulu or Topeka?

Honolulu is taxed under Hawaii's rules (a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax); Topeka under Kansas's (a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% state sales tax).

Honolulu vs Topeka Cost of Living 2026

Honolulu

Hawaii

$2,150/mo est.

Topeka

Kansas

$940/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 $940 in Topeka, KS. Overall, Topeka, KS is roughly 56% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Honolulu, HI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $85,428 in Honolulu, HI and $55,902 in Topeka, KS — about 35% higher in Honolulu, HI. Hawaii has a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax; Kansas has a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Honolulu, HI

Topeka, KS

Rent

Studio

$1,390

$702

+49% in Honolulu, HI

1 Bedroom

$1,570

$758

+52% in Honolulu, HI

2 Bedroom

$1,983

$977

+51% in Honolulu, HI

3 Bedroom

$2,433

$1,177

+52% in Honolulu, HI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$834,100

$130,600

+84% in Honolulu, HI

Income

Median Household Income

$85,428

$55,902

+35% in Honolulu, HI

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$57,220

$49,540

+13% in Honolulu, HI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

42.9 yr

38.2 yr

+4.7 yr in Honolulu, HI

Homeownership

48.6%

59.2%

+10.6 pp in Topeka, KS

Bachelor's+ (25+)

40.8%

29.1%

+11.7 pp in Honolulu, HI

Avg Commute

22.3 min

16.7 min

+5.6 min in Honolulu, HI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

214.1

856.5

+300% in Topeka, KS

Property Crime

1,919.8

3,660.2

+91% in Topeka, KS

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

55.1°F

+22.6°F in Honolulu, HI

Annual Precipitation

17.1 in

36.5 in

+19.4 in in Topeka, KS

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$5.21/gal

$3.85/gal

+26% in Honolulu, HI

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$3.00

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

52.7

15.7

+70% in Honolulu, HI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$66.84

$25.12

+62% 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 Topeka, KS

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.77

+8% in Honolulu, HI

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$2.10

+4% in Topeka, KS

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 / KS)

6.5%

+2.5 pp in KS

Income Tax (top rate)

11.00%

5.58%

+5.4 pp in HI

Honolulu vs Topeka — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Honolulu or Topeka?: Topeka, KS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 56% below Honolulu, HI's $2,150, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Honolulu than in Topeka?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $63,000 a year in Honolulu versus $30,000 in Topeka.
Which has lower taxes, Honolulu or Topeka?: Honolulu is taxed under Hawaii's rules (a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax); Topeka under Kansas's (a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% 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).