Cost of Living Comparison Between Honolulu, HI and New York, NY Cost of Living Comparison Between Honolulu, HI and New York, NY

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,694 per month in Honolulu, HI vs $4,503 in New York, NY, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,680 per month in Honolulu, HI vs $7,077 in New York, NY, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,665 per month in Honolulu, HI vs $9,650 in New York, NY, rent included.

Honolulu, HI is about 18% cheaper than New York, NY, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Honolulu, HI and New York, NY sit above the global median – Honolulu, HI by 176%, New York, NY by 236%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$23.66 $23.66

$30.28 $30.28

-21.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$142 $142

-29.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.85 $14.85

$12.65 $12.65

17.39%

Cappuccino

$6.95 $6.95

$5.81 $5.81

19.62%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.61 $3.61

$3.26 $3.26

10.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 $2.83

$2.58 $2.58

9.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.98 $7.98

$8.19 $8.19

-2.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.82 $8.82

$11.82 $11.82

-25.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.12 $2.12

$1.53 $1.53

38.56%

White Bread (500g)

$6.62 $6.62

$5.27 $5.27

25.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$10.08 $10.08

$8.34 $8.34

20.86%

Eggs

$7.70 $7.70

$7.25 $7.25

6.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$30.16 $30.16

$17.29 $17.29

74.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$19.27 $19.27

$16.21 $16.21

18.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.54 $19.54

$19.82 $19.82

-1.41%

Apples (1kg)

$6.79 $6.79

$7.57 $7.57

-10.30%

Banana (1kg)

$4.30 $4.30

$2.42 $2.42

77.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.64 $6.64

$5.83 $5.83

13.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$8.48 $8.48

$6.39 $6.39

32.71%

Potato (1kg)

$5.19 $5.19

$3.87 $3.87

34.11%

Onion (1kg)

$4.47 $4.47

$4.06 $4.06

10.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$4.85 $4.85

$3.12 $3.12

55.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.07 $3.07

$2.45 $2.45

25.31%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.06 $12.06

$19.26 $19.26

-37.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.68 $19.68

$19.96 $19.96

-1.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.52 $2.52

$2.99 $2.99

-15.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.60 $5.60

$3.73 $3.73

50.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.01 $3.01

$2.84 $2.84

5.99%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$78.5 $78.5

$134 $134

-41.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.47 $3.47

$5.11 $5.11

-32.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.11 $2.11

27.49%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$43.96 $43.96

$42.31 $42.31

3.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 $1.23

$0.97 $0.97

26.80%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$29.8K $29.8K

$34.7K $34.7K

-14.12%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$24.3K $24.3K

$27.8K $27.8K

-12.78%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$235 $235

$181 $181

29.40%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$65.4 $65.4

$60.2 $60.2

8.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.2 $68.2

$62.5 $62.5

9.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.7 $57.7

$143 $143

-59.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$28.46 $28.46

$65.3 $65.3

-56.39%

Cinema Ticket

$15.73 $15.73

$19.98 $19.98

-21.27%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,495 $1,495

$3,216 $3,216

-53.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.6K $20.6K

$57.2K $57.2K

-63.93%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.7 $56.7

$67.5 $67.5

-15.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$60.4 $60.4

$47.68 $47.68

26.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$105 $105

$111 $111

-5.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$127 $127

$169 $169

-24.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,079 $2,079

$4,092 $4,092

-49.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,877 $1,877

$2,694 $2,694

-30.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,209 $4,209

$8,445 $8,445

-50.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,676 $3,676

$5,128 $5,128

-28.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,642 $8,642

$18.2K $18.2K

-52.47%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,224 $7,224

$6,299 $6,299

14.69%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,082 $4,082

$5,540 $5,540

-26.32%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.59

6.44

2.33%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Honolulu, HI: June 1, 2026

Last update for New York, NY: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,079 in Honolulu, HI versus $4,092 in New York, NY. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 36% higher in New York, NY, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $100 in Honolulu, HI versus $142 in New York, NY. Groceries tell a different story – $677 in Honolulu, HI vs $554 in New York, NY – so New York, NY wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Honolulu, HI vs New York, NY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

New York, NY costs about 22% more than Honolulu, HI, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,542 per month in Honolulu, HI and $6,754 in New York, NY. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Honolulu, HI, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,694 in Honolulu, HI and $4,503 in New York, NY. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 71% less in Honolulu, HI. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,694 in Honolulu, HI and $4,503 in New York, NY. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Honolulu, HI costs $3,694 versus $4,503 in New York, NY. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Honolulu, HI. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, New York, NY makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.