Cost of Living Comparison Between Honolulu, HI and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Honolulu, HI and Chicago, IL

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Honolulu, HI is 21.8% more expensive than Chicago, IL without rent, and 19.2% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Honolulu, HI is 22.1% more expensive than Chicago, IL without rent, and 24.3% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Honolulu, HI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$23.34 $23.34
$20.82 $20.82
12.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$101 $101
$100 $100
0.93%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.92 $14.92
$11.97 $11.97
24.64%
Cappuccino
$6.97 $6.97
$5.56 $5.56
25.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 $3.72
$3.11 $3.11
19.61%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 $2.88
$2.42 $2.42
19.01%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.07 $8.07
$6.86 $6.86
17.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.82 $8.82
$8.45 $8.45
4.38%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Honolulu, HI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.03 $2.03
$1.04 $1.04
95.19%
White Bread (500g)
$6.74 $6.74
$4.15 $4.15
62.41%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$10.38 $10.38
$5.52 $5.52
88.04%
Eggs
$7.55 $7.55
$4.65 $4.65
62.37%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$29.93 $29.93
$14.33 $14.33
108.86%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$19.05 $19.05
$14.88 $14.88
28.02%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.53 $19.53
$19.34 $19.34
0.98%
Apples (1kg)
$6.99 $6.99
$5.17 $5.17
35.20%
Banana (1kg)
$4.16 $4.16
$1.71 $1.71
143.27%
Oranges (1kg)
$6.37 $6.37
$4.41 $4.41
44.44%
Tomato (1kg)
$8.16 $8.16
$4.51 $4.51
80.93%
Potato (1kg)
$5.1 $5.1
$2.53 $2.53
101.58%
Onion (1kg)
$4.53 $4.53
$2.74 $2.74
65.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$4.88 $4.88
$2.43 $2.43
100.82%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$3.03 $3.03
$2.7 $2.7
12.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.78 $11.78
$15.19 $15.19
-22.45%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.32 $18.32
$16.42 $16.42
11.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.52 $2.52
$2.35 $2.35
7.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.65 $5.65
$3.7 $3.7
52.70%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Honolulu, HI
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.03 $3.03
$2.53 $2.53
19.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$78.9 $78.9
$74.1 $74.1
6.43%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.47 $3.47
$3.34 $3.34
3.89%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.63 $2.63
$1.42 $1.42
85.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$45.43 $45.43
$25.42 $25.42
78.72%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 $1.27
$1.08 $1.08
17.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8K $29.8K
$32.4K $32.4K
-8.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.3K $24.3K
$26.2K $26.2K
-7.26%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Honolulu, HI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$235 $235
$188 $188
25.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$66.4 $66.4
$63.7 $63.7
4.21%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67.4 $67.4
$65.2 $65.2
3.42%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Honolulu, HI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.9 $57.9
$76.7 $76.7
-24.50%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.83 $28.83
$13.03 $13.03
121.26%
Cinema Ticket
$15.95 $15.95
$14.93 $14.93
6.83%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Honolulu, HI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,498 $1,498
$2,063 $2,063
-27.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$20.5K $20.5K
$39.2K $39.2K
-47.73%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Honolulu, HI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.4 $56.4
$64.3 $64.3
-12.36%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.9 $59.9
$52.4 $52.4
14.39%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$104 $104
$95.2 $95.2
8.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$127 $127
$145 $145
-12.12%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Honolulu, HI
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,081 $2,081
$2,378 $2,378
-12.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,840 $1,840
$1,584 $1,584
16.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,180 $4,180
$4,763 $4,763
-12.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,703 $3,703
$2,815 $2,815
31.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$9,485 $9,485
$3,588 $3,588
164.36%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,755 $7,755
$2,490 $2,490
211.41%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Honolulu, HI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,209 $4,209
$5,275 $5,275
-20.20%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.59
6.6
-0.15%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Honolulu, HI: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Join the CityCost newsletter โ€“ low traffic, no spam, and easy to unsubscribe. Your email stays private.