Cost of Living in Honolulu, Hawaii (2026)
COL Index
186
100 = US avg
1BR Rent
$3,200
per month
Median HHI
$82K
per year
State Tax
11%
income tax
Full cost breakdown
| Category | Honolulu |
|---|---|
| 🏠 HousingQ1 2026 | |
| Studio rent/mo | $2,500 |
| 1BR rent/mo | $3,200 |
| 2BR rent/mo | $4,500 |
| Median home price | $750K |
| 🛒 Food & GroceriesQ1 2026 | |
| Groceries index (100 = US avg) | 120 |
| Budget meal (1 person) | $18 |
| Mid-range dinner (2 people) | $78 |
| 🚌 TransportationQ1 2026 | |
| Monthly transit pass/mo | $70 |
| Gas price/gal | $4.80 |
| Car insurance/moCompare rates → | $195 |
| ⚡ UtilitiesQ1 2026 | |
| Utilities bundle (elec + gas + water)/mo | $185 |
| Internet/mo | $75 |
| 💰 Income & TaxesQ1 2026 | |
| Median household income/yr | $82K |
| State income tax rate | 11.0% |
| Sales tax (combined) | 4.7% |
| 📊 OverviewQ1 2026 | |
| Overall COL index (100 = US avg) | 186 |
| Walk score / 100 | 66 |
Is Honolulu affordable on your salary?
How rent burden (1BR) changes across income levels. Under 30% is comfortable; above 40% is tight.
$40K
~$2,362/mo take-home
135% rent burden · Difficult
$50K
~$2,702/mo take-home
118% rent burden · Difficult
$60K
~$3,243/mo take-home
99% rent burden · Difficult
$75K
~$4,053/mo take-home
79% rent burden · Difficult
$80K
~$4,323/mo take-home
74% rent burden · Difficult
$100K
~$5,404/mo take-home
59% rent burden · Difficult
$120K
~$6,055/mo take-home
53% rent burden · Difficult
$150K
~$7,569/mo take-home
42% rent burden · Tight
High cost of living cuts into your budget. A cash-back card helps recover it.
Earn 2–5% back on groceries, gas, and dining automatically.
Too expensive? Find cheaper alternatives.
See cities with a lower cost of living than Honolulu.
Compare Honolulu with other cities
Honolulu vs New YorkCompare →Honolulu vs Los AngelesCompare →Honolulu vs ChicagoCompare →Honolulu vs HoustonCompare →Save your comparisonsCreate free account →
Data: Zillow Observed Rent Index, BLS, Numbeo, Tax Foundation, US Census ACS · Q1 2026 · For general guidance only