State profile
Hawaii Cost of Living Comparison
Hawaii's 2024 price level is 109.951, second only to California, and it has the country's highest goods prices (111.562) and highest utilities prices (190.178, almost double the national level).
Updated
109.951Hawaii all-items price level, U.S. = 100 · rank 50 of 51, lowest first
| Measure | Hawaii | District of Columbia | First − second |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-items price level | 109.951 | 109.901 | +0.050 points |
| Rent price level | 125.304 | 154.984 | −29.680 points |
| Home value | $839,100±$5,924 | $737,100±$10,625 | +$102,000 |
| Two-bedroom gross rent | $1,996±$32 | $2,083±$86 | −$87 |
| Household income | $100,389±$1,121 | $109,870±$1,937 | −$9,481 |
| Real estate taxes paid | $2,239±$31 | $4,312±$97 | −$2,073 |
$4,000 of monthly spending in Hawaii scales to $3,998 in District of Columbia at the 2024 all-items price ratio.
BEA 2024 and ACS 2020–2024; ± marks the Census 90% margin. How to read a gap
Hawaii: the costliest goods and utilities, light property tax
Isolation shows in the categories the mainland rarely notices. Hawaii ranks last of 51 (most expensive) for both goods and utilities; its utilities parity is 90.18% above the national level. Rents are high as well, at 125.304, but several mainland jurisdictions charge more for housing than Hawaii does.
Homes are the most valuable anywhere, yet property taxes are light. The median home value of $839,100 ranks first, while the median real estate tax paid, $2,239 a year, ranks only 33rd. Owners with a mortgage report median monthly costs of $2,904, rank 3. Renters, facing a two-bedroom median of $1,996 (rank 3), spend 33.2% of income on gross rent, second-highest in the country.
High incomes do not survive the price adjustment. The median household income of $100,389 ranks fifth, but real per capita personal income, which accounts for Hawaii's prices, is $52,272, rank 47 and about 11.7% below the U.S. figure.
The state government relies on a broad sales levy: general sales supplied 44.9% of fiscal 2025 collections, $3,460 per resident, and individual income tax 29.8%. Census records no state property tax. Total collections were $7,703 per resident, rank 3, partly because visitors pay sales tax too.
Prices have eased relative to the nation: 113.279 in 2020, 111.148 in 2022 and 109.951 in 2024, a fall of 3.328 points. With no land neighbours, the nearest comparisons are by price level; the District of Columbia (109.901) is closest.
Category price levels in Hawaii
| Category | Parity | Rank, low first | vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 109.951 | 50 | 9.95% above |
| Goods | 111.562 | 51 | 11.56% above |
| Housing (rents) | 125.304 | 45 | 25.30% above |
| Utilities | 190.178 | 51 | 90.18% above |
| Other services | 102.898 | 45 | 2.90% above |
| Real income per person, 2017 $ | $52,272 | 47 | U.S. $59,195 |
All items by year: 2020 113.279 · 2021 112.564 · 2022 111.148 · 2023 109.703 · 2024 109.951 (−3.328 since 2020). How to read categories and trends
Monthly housing costs
- Owners with a mortgage
- $2,904±$28 · rank 3, high first
- Owners without a mortgage
- $697±$9 · rank 14
- Renters: gross rent / income
- 33.2%±0.5 · rank 2
Hawaii state tax collections, FY2025
$11.04 billion in total, $7,703 per resident. Scope of these figures
| Tax | FY2025 | Share | Per resident |
|---|---|---|---|
| Individual income | $3.29 billion | 29.8% | $2,294 |
| General sales | $4.96 billion | 44.9% | $3,460 |
| Property | not levied | ||
| Motor fuel | $80.2 million | 0.7% | $56 |
| Other selective sales | $1.43 billion | 13.0% | $1,000 |
| Corporate income | $410.6 million | 3.7% | $287 |
| Licenses | $366.1 million | 3.3% | $256 |
| Severance | not levied | ||
| Other taxes | $501.8 million | 4.5% | $350 |
Closest price levels to Hawaii
Hawaii borders no other state. Nearest 2024 all-items parities:
Before you budget a move
Hawaii’s all-items price level is near the top of the verified state distribution. Before interpreting the index as a required salary, decide which housing, shipping and travel costs your move would create. The ratio of state price levels is a broad spending approximation, not a list of household invoices.
Ask whether the offer includes accommodation, relocation transport or scheduled travel. A proposed Honolulu lease and another island destination need their own addresses and utility terms. Keep the move itself in a one-time column so it does not become a permanent monthly expense in the comparison.
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