Is it cheaper to live in Honolulu or Tulsa?

Tulsa, OK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 53% below Honolulu, HI's $2,160, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $63,000 a year in Honolulu versus $34,000 in Tulsa.

Which has lower taxes, Honolulu or Tulsa?

Honolulu is taxed under Hawaii's rules (a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax); Tulsa under Oklahoma's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax).

Honolulu vs Tulsa Cost of Living 2026

Honolulu

Hawaii

$2,160/mo est.

Tulsa

Oklahoma

$1,020/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 $1,020 in Tulsa, OK. Overall, Tulsa, OK is roughly 53% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Honolulu, HI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $85,428 in Honolulu, HI and $58,407 in Tulsa, OK — about 32% higher in Honolulu, HI. Hawaii has a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax; Oklahoma has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax.

Honolulu, HI

Tulsa, OK

Rent

Studio

$1,390

$786

+43% in Honolulu, HI

1 Bedroom

$1,570

$847

+46% in Honolulu, HI

2 Bedroom

$1,983

$1,045

+47% in Honolulu, HI

3 Bedroom

$2,433

$1,265

+48% in Honolulu, HI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$834,100

$189,600

+77% in Honolulu, HI

Income

Median Household Income

$85,428

$58,407

+32% in Honolulu, HI

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$57,220

$46,670

+18% in Honolulu, HI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

42.9 yr

35.5 yr

+7.4 yr in Honolulu, HI

Homeownership

48.6%

52.0%

+3.4 pp in Tulsa, OK

Bachelor's+ (25+)

40.8%

33.3%

+7.5 pp in Honolulu, HI

Avg Commute

22.3 min

18.7 min

+3.6 min in Honolulu, HI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

214.1

948.9

+343% in Tulsa, OK

Property Crime

1,919.8

3,664.6

+91% in Tulsa, OK

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

60.1°F

+17.6°F in Honolulu, HI

Annual Precipitation

17.1 in

43.7 in

+26.6 in in Tulsa, OK

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$5.09/gal

$3.94/gal

+23% 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)

52.0

13.4

+74% in Honolulu, HI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$70.84

$27.15

+62% in Honolulu, HI

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

$4.00

+17% in Honolulu, HI

Bread (lb)

$2.04

$1.75

+14% in Honolulu, HI

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$2.21

+1% in Tulsa, OK

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.45

+12% in Honolulu, HI

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$1.90

+6% in Honolulu, HI

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.62

+12% in Honolulu, HI

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (HI / OK)

4.5%

+0.5 pp in OK

Income Tax (top rate)

11.00%

4.50%

+6.5 pp in HI

Honolulu vs Tulsa — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Honolulu or Tulsa?: Tulsa, OK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 53% below Honolulu, HI's $2,160, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Honolulu than in Tulsa?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $63,000 a year in Honolulu versus $34,000 in Tulsa.
Which has lower taxes, Honolulu or Tulsa?: Honolulu is taxed under Hawaii's rules (a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax); Tulsa under Oklahoma's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% 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).