Cost of Living in Hawaii (HI)
Compare costs across 1 Hawaii cities. From home services to salaries, see how HI stacks up against the national average.
1
Cities
192
Avg Cost Index
$72K
Avg Income
Direct Answer
Hawaii's average cost index is 192, which is above the national baseline of 100. Honolulu is the most affordable tracked city in HI at index 192, while Honolulu is the most expensive at index 192.
The gap between the cheapest and most expensive tracked cities is 0 index points, so state-level averages should be used as a map, not a final budget.
State cost overviewBLS, Census, HUD inputsLast verified May 2026
Hawaii Highlights: Most affordable city: Honolulu (index 192). Most expensive: Honolulu (index 192). The gap between cheapest and most expensive is 0 index points.
What Drives the Statewide Cost Picture?
Average index
192/100
Hawaii is above the national cost baseline across tracked cities.
Cheapest city
Honolulu
Honolulu has a cost index of 192.
Most expensive
Honolulu
Honolulu has a cost index of 192.
Income average
$72K
Average median household income across 1 tracked HI cities.
Cheapest and Most Expensive Cities in Hawaii
| City | Population | Cost Index | Median Income | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honolulu | 351K | 192 | $72K | large |
Hawaii State Taxes (2026)
Headline tax rates that affect your real take-home pay and total cost of living in Hawaii.
State Income Tax
1.4-11%
progressive system
Combined Sales Tax
4.5%
4% state + 0.5% avg local
Property Tax (Effective)
0.27%
~$810/yr on a $300K home
Income tax: Hawaii uses a progressive income tax at 1.4-11%. Estate tax applies at the state level. Estimate your take-home pay
State Planning Checklist
- Start with Honolulu if the priority is lowest recurring cost inside Hawaii.
- Compare Honolulu against salary and tax advantages before assuming the higher-cost city is worse.
- Use city pages for rent, salary, insurance, and local service costs before making a relocation decision.