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Urban Honolulu, HI

Cost of living in Honolulu, Hawaii

Honolulu County, HI

Part of the Urban Honolulu Metro Area

Estimated monthly cost
$4,400/mo
for a single person, all categories combined

Population 1,003,666 · Last updated May 21, 2026

Cost breakdown

Single person, by category, per month.

Rent $2,052 47%
Federal tax $635 14%
Healthcare $480 11%
Groceries $416 9%
State tax $274 6%
Transport $250 6%
Energy $233 5%
Water $60 1%

Rent in Honolulu

Fair Market Rents by bedroom count.

Studio
$1,887
per month
1 bedroom
$2,052
per month
2 bedroom
$2,687
per month
3 bedroom
$3,765
per month
4 bedroom
$4,512
per month

Source: HUD FMR FY2025

Income and earnings in Honolulu

Annual earnings figures from the Census ACS.

Household income
$104,264
per year
Individual earnings
$48,864
per year
Per capita
$46,361
per year

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year.

Home values in Honolulu

Average values reported by homeowners.

Average home value
$873,000
Annual property tax
$2,482

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year

Energy costs in Honolulu

Estimated monthly electricity and gas costs.

Electricity
$215
per month · 43¢/kWh
Natural gas
$18
per month
Annual total
$2,796
per year

Source: EIA

Healthcare in Honolulu

Insurance premiums and coverage rates.

Individual premium
$480
per month
Family premium
$1,350
per month
Uninsured rate
3.4%

Source: ACS + national avg. Marketplace benchmark premiums are second-lowest Silver plan estimates and do not reflect employer plans, subsidies, or out-of-pocket costs. This is not healthcare advice.

Taxes in Honolulu

State and local tax rates for Hawaii.

State income tax
11.0%
Top marginal rate
State sales tax
4.0%
Combined sales tax
4.4%
incl. average local

Tax rates change. Consult a qualified tax professional for advice on your specific situation. This is not tax advice.

Transportation in Honolulu

Commute patterns and estimated costs.

Average commute
27.1 min
Drive alone
64.0%
Public transit
5.3%
Work from home
8.4%

Source: ACS

Monthly cost estimates for Honolulu

What it costs to live in Honolulu each month.

Single person
$4,400
per month
  • Rent $2,052
  • Energy $233
  • Water $60
  • Groceries $416
  • Transport $250
  • Healthcare $480
  • Federal tax $635
  • State tax $274
Couple
$6,972
per month
  • Rent $2,687
  • Energy $280
  • Water $70
  • Groceries $689
  • Transport $350
  • Healthcare $864
  • Federal tax $1,377
  • State tax $655
Family
$10,278
per month
  • Rent $3,765
  • Energy $350
  • Water $85
  • Groceries $1,046
  • Transport $450
  • Healthcare $1,350
  • Childcare $1,200
  • Federal tax $1,377
  • State tax $655

Frequently asked questions about Honolulu

Common questions about cost of living, rent and salary.

What is the average rent in Honolulu?

In Honolulu, Hawaii, a one-bedroom apartment averages $2,052 per month, a two-bedroom averages $2,687 per month, a three-bedroom averages $3,765 per month, according to HUD Fair Market Rent data.

What is the average salary in Honolulu?

In Honolulu, Hawaii, the average household income is $104,264 per year and individual earnings for full-time workers average $48,864 per year, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

What is the cost of living in Honolulu?

The estimated cost of living in Honolulu, Hawaii is approximately $4,400 per month for a single person, $6,972 for a couple, $10,278 for a family. This includes rent, utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, and taxes.

What is the sales tax rate in Honolulu?

The combined sales tax rate in Honolulu, Hawaii is 4.44%, which includes the Hawaii state rate of 4.00% plus an average local rate of 0.44%.

Is Honolulu an affordable place to live?

Based on the data, a single person in Honolulu, Hawaii would need approximately $4,400 per month to cover rent, utilities, food, transport, healthcare, and taxes. The average household income is $104,264 per year ($8,689 per month). Honolulu has a moderate cost of living relative to local earnings.

How much does healthcare cost in Honolulu?

The ACA marketplace benchmark premium in Honolulu, Hawaii is approximately $480 per month for an individual. Approximately 3.4% of residents are uninsured. Actual costs vary based on employer coverage, plan type, and individual circumstances.

What are house prices in Honolulu?

The average home value in Honolulu, Hawaii is $873,000, with average annual property taxes of $2,482, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

How does Honolulu compare to other areas?

You can compare Honolulu, Hawaii with any other US county using our comparison tool at /compare. Honolulu is in the Urban Honolulu, HI metro area.

Other counties in Hawaii

Browse the full list of counties in Hawaii, ranked by cost of living.

See all counties in Hawaii

Compare Honolulu with another area

Put two counties side by side to see how rent, taxes and everyday costs stack up.

About this data

All figures on this page come from official U.S. government sources, listed below.

  • HUD FMR FY2025
  • ACS 2019-2023 5-Year
  • EIA
  • ACS + national avg
  • ACS
  • USDA + BEA RPP
Methodology All data sources