City profile
Honolulu, HI cost of living
HI · BLS RPP 112.9
Overall RPP
112.9
US = 100
Housing RPP
148.4
Housing component
Goods RPP
111.8
Goods component
2-BR Rent (HUD)
$2,252/mo
FY2024 FMR
Where Honolulu, HI sits in the verified metro set
RPP rank
#7 of 67
+12.9 vs U.S. average
Vs median metro
+14.5
median RPP 98.4
2-BR rent rank
#9 of 67
+646/mo vs median verified metro
RPP ranks use only verified ReloMath metro records. Sources: BEA Regional Price Parities by MSA, 2022 (Table 4); HUD FY2024 Fair Market Rents (2-BR); reviewed June 2026. These are official published averages, not neighborhood-level prices.
Who’s moving in and out of Honolulu, HI
IRS tax-return migration · 2021-2022Cost of living is only half the relocation question. The other half is which way people are actually voting with their feet, straight from IRS tax-return migration for the Honolulu, HI metro.
Moved in
39,313
people · 20,356 households
Moved out
48,283
people · 23,942 households
Net
−8,970
net loss of residents
Net migration rank
#46 of 65
among IRS-covered ReloMath metros
Vs median net flow
-8,866
median -104 people
Largest flow share
4% in / 5% out
top named county shares
Where new residents came from
- San Diego County, CA 1,660
- Los Angeles County, CA 1,113
- Clark County, NV 788
- Hawaii County, HI 738
- King County, WA 662
Where residents moved to
- Clark County, NV 2,481
- San Diego County, CA 1,667
- Hawaii County, HI 1,216
- Los Angeles County, CA 1,065
- Pierce County, WA 943
Counts are IRS tax filers (returns ≈ households, individuals ≈ exemptions) who changed address between 2021-2022. Flows too small for IRS to disclose are grouped and excluded from the named lists. Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration data ↗, mapped to metros via the U.S. Census CBSA delineation.
What salary do you need in Honolulu, HI?
Equivalent salary to maintain the same purchasing power as in a US-average city (RPP 100).
| In US-average city | You need in Honolulu, HI | Formula |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $56,450 | $50,000 x (112.9/100) |
| $75,000 | $84,675 | $75,000 x (112.9/100) |
| $100,000 | $112,900 | $100,000 x (112.9/100) |
| $125,000 | $141,125 | $125,000 x (112.9/100) |
| $150,000 | $169,350 | $150,000 x (112.9/100) |
| $200,000 | $225,800 | $200,000 x (112.9/100) |
This tool provides estimates only. Equivalent-salary figures are derived from BLS Regional Price Parities (RPP) and HUD Fair Market Rents — they are averages, not guarantees. Actual cost of living varies by neighborhood, lifestyle, and individual circumstances. Not financial advice.
State income tax note
Hawaii income tax 1.4%-11.0%. Highest goods prices outside mainland due to shipping.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the cost of living in Honolulu, HI?
- Honolulu, HI has a BLS Regional Price Parity of 112.9 (US average = 100). It is 12.9% more expensive than the national average.
- What salary do I need to live in Honolulu, HI?
- If you earn $100,000 in a US-average city (RPP 100), you would need approximately $112,900 in Honolulu, HI to maintain the same purchasing power.
- What is the average rent in Honolulu, HI?
- The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Honolulu, HI is approximately $2,252 per month as of FY2024.
- Are people moving to or away from Honolulu, HI?
- Based on IRS tax-return migration data for 2021-2022, about 39,313 people moved into the Honolulu, HI metro and 48,283 moved out — a net loss of roughly 8,970 residents. The largest single source of new residents was San Diego County, CA.
Curated nearby & similar cities
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