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Honolulu County · Hawaii · West · 345k residents

Honolulu, HI: cost of living, taxes & quality of life

Residential facts for Honolulu: housing, taxes, monthly costs, climate, schools, and household income, with the Hawaii median as the yardstick. Compare it live against any of 3,000 US cities.

Data coverage: Curated city row; coverage varies by fact.

The median home value in Honolulu is $800,000, 8% below the Hawaii median. A two-bedroom rents for about $2,900/mo. Day-to-day costs index at 170 against a national baseline of 100. The median household here earns $85,000 a year.

What the numbers show

Source-confirmed findings

Limited coverage: This profile does not yet have enough source-confirmed local data for a city brief.

This profile does not yet have enough source-confirmed local data for a city brief.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates(2024 ACS 5-year; tables B01003, B15003, B19013, B25077). Geography: Census place where available. This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

WhereToHQ calculates the comparisons. Figures are estimates for context, not a guarantee or personal financial advice. Read the methodology or send a correction.

What makes this place distinctive

A factual snapshot of the place, based on the profile data. It is not a tourism or cultural claim.

An island capital where ocean life, Native Hawaiian culture, and a global Pacific outlook meet.

Known for: Waikiki, Diamond Head, surfing, Pacific history, and Hawaiian foodways.

Calendar note: The Honolulu Festival and Aloha Festivals celebrate the city’s Pacific connections.

Story source: Go Hawaii

  • Scale: A large city with a quarter-million or more residents in the profile data.
  • Setting: The profile places Honolulu about 2 miles from the nearest tracked ocean.
  • Climate signal: The profile records 271 sunny days and 0 inches of annual snow.
  • Daily pace: The profile records a walk score of 65 and an average commute of 27 minutes.

WhereToHQ derives these signals from the committed city dataset. Read the methodology for coverage and source limits.

Compare Honolulu for residents

Compare Honolulu side by side

Cost of living index

170

cheaper than 3% of US cities

Median home value

$800,000

−7.9% vs state mediancheaper than 9% of US cities

2-bedroom rent

$2,900/mo

cheaper than 3% of US cities

Median household income

$85,000

−28% vs state median≈ US median

Housing momentum

How fast Honolulu's housing market is moving, ranked against the US cities we track.

58/100

Steady

Rents YoY: +5.5% (top 15%)Home prices YoY: +0.7% (near US average)Home prices MoM: -0.3% (bottom 25%)
Momentum rising · +34 over 2 yr

Ranks Honolulu's home-price and rent growth against the US cities we cover. The label is relative pace, not a direction, so a market can rank low while some figures still rise. A higher score moves faster, it is not cheaper or better. Not investment or relocation advice.

$a year

Adjusted by Honolulu's cost-of-living index versus the US average.

All facets · Honolulu
Housing — Buy
Median home value$800,000
Price per sq. ft.$720
Property tax rate0.3%
Housing — Rent
1-bedroom rent$2,100/mo
2-bedroom rent$2,900/mo
Taxes
State & local income tax6.13%
Sales tax4.5%
Monthly Costs
Cost of living index170
Groceries index128
Utilities$290/mo
Transit pass$80/mo
Gas price$4.65/gal
Healthcare index108
Childcare (per child)$1,500/mo
Economy & Jobs
Median household income$85,000
Unemployment rate3.1%
Population345k
Quality of Life
Crime index40/100
School rating6.0/10
Walkability65/100
Disaster risk99/100
Avg. commute27 min
Climate
Sunny days / year271 days
July high87°F
January low66°F
Annual snowfall0 in
Market Trends
Home price YoY+0.7%
Home price MoM-0.3%
Rent YoY+5.5%
Rent MoM+0.2%
Location & Access
Ocean coast< 3 mi
Big lake2406 mi
Mountains112 mi
Major airport4 mi
Ski resort2535 mi
Compare & explore

Popular comparisons

Nearby

Similar size

Real listings in Honolulu

Homes on Zillow ↗Realtor.com ↗Rentals on Zillow ↗Apartments.com ↗

Links open third-party listing searches. WhereToHQ has no paid relationship with these sites.

Questions & answers
What is the cost of living in Honolulu, HI?
Honolulu indexes at 170 for day-to-day costs against a national baseline of 100, with a typical two-bedroom renting for $2,900/mo and a median home value of $800,000.
How much does a house cost in Honolulu?
The median home value in Honolulu is $800,000, 8% below the Hawaii median (compiled estimate; individual listings vary).
How much is rent in Honolulu?
A two-bedroom in Honolulu rents for about $2,900/mo.