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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Frankly, Nobody expects rock-bottom prices in Hawaii — but that doesn't mean all cities are equally expensive. Honolulu (index 135, rent $2,548/mo) carves out real savings within a high-cost market. We analyzed 1 cities to find where your money goes furthest in 2026.
#1 Ranked: Honolulu — cost index 135, rent $2,548/mo, income $85,428
0 of 1 cities come in below the national cost-of-living average of 112
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
Frankly, Nobody expects rock-bottom prices in Hawaii — but that doesn't mean all cities are equally expensive. Honolulu (index 135, rent $2,548/mo) carves out real savings within a high-cost market. We analyzed 1 cities to find where your money goes furthest in 2026.
The #1 spot goes to Honolulu, and the breakdown explains why. And with some exceptions, renters here pay $2,548/month — costing renters $7,836 more per year compared to the national average. Meanwhile, Utilities is the standout at index 125, keeping costs manageable. The weak spot? Housing at 189. The 36% rent-to-income ratio is a pressure point — for median earners, housing takes more than recommended (that's pre-tax, of course).
Put differently: The 1 cities we track in Hawaii paint a premium but nuanced picture. Average cost index: 135. Median rent: $2,548/month. Household income: $85,428. Hawaii is known for the most isolated and expensive housing market in the US — and the data backs that reputation with some caveats.
What to do with this data: use the ranking as a shortlist, then dig into the city profiles for trend lines and category breakdowns. The difference between #1 and #5 is often smaller than the difference between "good on paper" and "actually fits my life." Compare your top picks with our calculator to see real take-home numbers.
341,778 residents · Hawaii
The #1 spot goes to Honolulu, and the breakdown explains why. And broadly, take it or leave it — the data is what it is. Renters here pay $2,548/month — costing renters $7,836 more per year compared to the national average. Meanwhile, Utilities is the standout at index 125, keeping costs manageable. The weak spot? Housing at 189. The 36% rent-to-income ratio is a pressure point — for median earners, housing takes more than recommended.
| City | State Tax | Sales Tax | Property Tax | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1Honolulu | 11% | 4.44% | 0.27% | $55,649 |
Cities are ranked by median household income from Census ACS data. We also show cost-adjusted purchasing power (income ÷ cost index) to reveal which high-income cities actually deliver the most real-world spending power. All data is sourced from federal agencies and verified research institutions. Cost of living indices are normalized to 100 (national median) using Zillow rent as the primary signal, with sub-category adjustments derived from regional BLS price data. Rankings are updated monthly as new data is released.
Honolulu ranks #1 in Hawaii for this analysis with a cost index of 135 and median income of $85,428.
Our cost of living index uses real Zillow rent data as the foundation, indexed to 100 (national median). Sub-categories (housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare) are derived from the overall index with regional adjustments. Data is updated monthly.
City data is refreshed monthly from Census Bureau population estimates, Zillow rent and home price indices, BLS salary data, and Tax Foundation tax rates. Last updated: 2026.
The median 1-bedroom rent in Honolulu is $2,548/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $653 above the national median of $1,895/month.
The median home price in Honolulu is $758,507, which is 8.9× the local median income. Most median-income households would stretch to buy at this ratio. The national median home price is $467,370.
Hawaii has a 11% state income tax rate. Combined state and local sales tax averages 4.44%, and the effective property tax rate is 0.27%.
This ranking was generated using data current as of early 2026. Population and income data comes from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (5-year estimates). Rent and home price data is from Zillow's monthly releases. Tax rates are from the Tax Foundation's 2025 edition. Rankings are refreshed monthly.