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Cost of living in Honolulu, HI

Livability score 47 · cost-of-living index 111.4 (US = 100)

Honolulu, HI
Photo: Farragutful via Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

How Honolulu compares

Where Honolulu falls within the range of all 200 metros (marker = this city).

Cost-of-living index (US=100) 85 118 Cost-of-living index (US=100): 111 — range 85 to 118 across all metros 111 Median home price $149k $1610k Median home price: $851k — range $149k to $1610k across all metros $851k Price per sqft (more house = lower) $88 $1074 Price per sqft (more house = lower): $567 — range $88 to $1074 across all metros $567 Combined sales tax 0.0% 11.5% Combined sales tax: 4.5% — range 0.0% to 11.5% across all metros 4.5% Property tax rate 0.28% 2.76% Property tax rate: 0.28% — range 0.28% to 2.76% across all metros 0.28% Violent crime (per 100k, state avg) 110 1,000 Violent crime (per 100k, state avg): 260 — range 110 to 1,000 across all metros 260 Electricity (¢/kWh) 12.3 46.6 Electricity (¢/kWh): 46.6 — range 12.3 to 46.6 across all metros 46.6 Avg summer high (°F) 65° 104° Avg summer high (°F): 85° — range 65° to 104° across all metros 85° Avg winter low (°F) -2° 72° Avg winter low (°F): 66° — range -2° to 72° across all metros 66°

Map of Honolulu

Grocery stores, parks, golf courses and more — real listings. Toggle categories in the legend.

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors · business listings via Google Maps

Cost of living

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Cost-of-living index (US=100) 111.4 metro-area #190 of 200
Grocery index (US=100) 110.3 metro-area #199 of 200
Big Mac price (est.) $6.34 metro-area #190 of 200
Median household income $99,816 metro-area #9 of 200
Median wage (all occupations) $46,314 metro-area #32 of 200

Who lives here

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Median age 39.4 years metro-area #125 of 200
Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) 37.7% metro-area #59 of 200
Foreign-born residents 19.6% metro-area #31 of 200
Homes that are owner-occupied 59.5% metro-area #178 of 200

Economy

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Unemployment rate 4.79% metro-area #75 of 200
Population growth (5-yr) +2.0% metro-area #138 of 200

Housing — what your money buys

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Median home price $851,163 metro-area #192 of 200
Home price ÷ income (affordability) 8.5× metro-area #189 of 200
1-yr home appreciation +0.6% metro-area #122 of 200
Price per square foot $567 metro-area #192 of 200
Typical home size (implied) 1,500 sqft
Median rent (monthly) $2,980 metro-area #194 of 200
Homes for sale (inventory) 3,782
Median days on market 31 metro-area #154 of 200

Taxes

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Total tax burden (est. % of income) 14.1% state #188 of 200
Combined sales tax 4.50% state #6 of 200
State income tax (top rate) 12.00%
Capital gains tax 11.00% state #179 of 200
High earners 11% top rate — among the highest in the nation
Social Security in retirement Not taxed — does not tax Social Security benefits
Effective property tax rate 0.28% metro-area #1 of 200
Median property tax paid $2,368 metro-area #88 of 200

Health & childcare

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Life expectancy at birth 81.7 years metro-area #6 of 200
Healthcare (annual, single adult) $5,800 state #3 of 200
Uninsured (share of residents) 4.0% metro-area #4 of 200
Primary care providers per 100k 93 metro-area #27 of 200
Childcare (annual, infant, center) $15,000 state #141 of 200

Vehicles & commute

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Annual registration $150 state #125 of 200
Vehicle property tax (annual) None state #1 of 200
Emissions testing Not required
Emissions detail No vehicle emissions testing
DMV & license offices 4
Avg commute to work 27 min metro-area #162 of 200
Commute by driving alone 64.0% metro-area #15 of 200
Solo drivers commuting 30+ min 42.9% metro-area #174 of 200

Utilities & fuel

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Electricity 46.6¢/kWh state #200 of 200
Avg monthly electric bill $420 state #200 of 200
Gasoline $4.70/gal state #181 of 200
Natural gas (avg monthly bill) $42 state #19 of 200
Water & sewer (avg monthly bill) $194 state #193 of 200
Home internet (avg monthly bill) $69 state #11 of 200

Insurance

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Home insurance (annual) $1,100 state #7 of 200
Auto insurance (annual) $1,400 state #18 of 200

Disaster risk & supplemental insurance

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Main natural hazards Notable hazards: hurricanes, flooding, earthquakes — separate flood/quake/windstorm policies may be needed.
FEMA National Risk Index (0–100, higher = more risk) 98.8 — Relatively High metro-area #180 of 200
Flood insurance (annual, NFIP) $800 state #120 of 200
Earthquake insurance (annual) $550 state #171 of 200

Climate & air quality

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Air quality (median AQI, lower=cleaner) 31 metro-area #8 of 200
Cooling degree-days (AC load) 3,500 metro-area #179 of 200
Homes with air conditioning (state) 57% state #191 of 200
Heating degree-days (heat load) 0 metro-area #1 of 200
Days per year ≥ 90°F 19 metro-area #81 of 200
Days per year ≥ 100°F 0 metro-area #5 of 200
Avg summer high (state) 85°F metro-area #59 of 200
Avg winter low 66°F metro-area #3 of 200
Annual precipitation 16.4" metro-area #31 of 200
Annual snowfall 0.0" metro-area #1 of 200
Sunshine (% of possible) 71% metro-area #24 of 200
Plant hardiness zone 12a
Frost window 01-01 → 01-01

Safety

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Violent crime (per 100k, state avg) 260 state #15 of 200
Property crime (per 100k, state avg) 2,600 state #157 of 200

Local amenities & recreation

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Grocery stores 120 metro-area #5 of 200
Parks 60
Hiking areas 15
Golf courses 15
Shooting ranges 4
Lakes 4

Permits

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Building permit difficulty (1–5) 5 state #165 of 200
Permit detail Very difficult; long timelines

US rank = this metro's position among all 200 metros (1 = best: cheapest / safest / highest income, etc.). Childcare is a family cost, not included in the salary-equivalence total.

Top employers in Honolulu

Major public and private employers in the Honolulu, HI area.

EmployerSectorJobs
Altres Industrial Manufacturing Search →
Kapiolani Medical Center Healthcare Search →
Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard Government Careers →
Queen's Health Systems Healthcare Search →
City and County of Honolulu Government Search →
U.S. Military Government Careers →

Salaries by occupation in Honolulu

Local median pay, BLS OEWS. All occupations →

OccupationMedian pay
Physician Assistants $150,690
Pharmacists $137,440
Registered Nurses $133,820
Marketing Managers $126,110
Financial Managers $124,780
Data Scientists $124,420
Construction Managers $122,890
Dentists $122,020
Human Resources Managers $114,030
General & Operations Managers $107,990
Lawyers $107,000
Software Developers $102,790
Electricians $102,280
Physical Therapists $101,780
Mechanical Engineers $97,140
Dental Hygienists $94,760
Carpenters $90,030
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $88,230
Civil Engineers $84,500
Welders, Cutters & Solderers $76,540
Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters $75,520
Accountants & Auditors $70,470
Real Estate Sales Agents $65,130
Elementary School Teachers $60,670
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $56,830
Graphic Designers $51,150
Medical Assistants $46,360

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