Cost of Living Comparison Between Honolulu, HI and Seattle, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Honolulu, HI and Seattle, WA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,616 per month in Honolulu, HI vs $3,583 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,711 per month in Honolulu, HI vs $5,632 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,806 per month in Honolulu, HI vs $7,681 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

Honolulu, HI costs about 1% more than Seattle, WA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Honolulu, HI and Seattle, WA sit above the global median – Honolulu, HI by 170%, Seattle, WA by 168%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$23.06 $23.06

$24.97 $24.97

-7.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$119 $119

-15.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.81 $14.81

$13.90 $13.90

6.55%

Cappuccino

$6.80 $6.80

$5.56 $5.56

22.30%

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

$3.72 $3.72

$3.06 $3.06

21.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 $2.83

$2.47 $2.47

14.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.17 $8.17

$7.96 $7.96

2.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.97 $8.97

$8.01 $8.01

11.99%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.02 $2.02

$1.34 $1.34

50.75%

White Bread (500g)

$6.78 $6.78

$5.05 $5.05

34.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$10.16 $10.16

$5.36 $5.36

89.55%

Eggs

$7.88 $7.88

$6.59 $6.59

19.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$30.71 $30.71

$25.31 $25.31

21.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$19.01 $19.01

$16.19 $16.19

17.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.22 $20.22

$20.30 $20.30

-0.39%

Apples (1kg)

$6.76 $6.76

$5.97 $5.97

13.23%

Banana (1kg)

$4.32 $4.32

$2.74 $2.74

57.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.57 $6.57

$5.36 $5.36

22.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$8.45 $8.45

$6.61 $6.61

27.84%

Potato (1kg)

$5.08 $5.08

$3.25 $3.25

56.31%

Onion (1kg)

$4.45 $4.45

$3.79 $3.79

17.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$4.79 $4.79

$2.73 $2.73

75.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.07 $3.07

$2.53 $2.53

21.34%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.07 $12.07

$11.31 $11.31

6.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.19 $20.19

$16.28 $16.28

24.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$2.85 $2.85

-13.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.57 $5.57

$4.16 $4.16

33.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.98 $2.98

$2.69 $2.69

10.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$79.2 $79.2

$97.1 $97.1

-18.41%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.46 $3.46

$2.71 $2.71

27.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.57 $2.57

$1.73 $1.73

48.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$45.25 $45.25

$29.46 $29.46

53.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 $1.24

$1.20 $1.20

3.33%

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

$29.9K $29.9K

$33.6K $33.6K

-10.86%

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

$24.6K $24.6K

$26.0K $26.0K

-5.58%

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

$232 $232

$266 $266

-13.10%

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

$64.7 $64.7

$60.4 $60.4

7.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.5 $67.5

$76.2 $76.2

-11.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$58.1 $58.1

$79.2 $79.2

-26.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$28.34 $28.34

$40.51 $40.51

-30.04%

Cinema Ticket

$15.77 $15.77

$16.22 $16.22

-2.77%

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

$1,509 $1,509

$2,280 $2,280

-33.83%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.1K $20.1K

$29.6K $29.6K

-32.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.1 $58.1

$69.6 $69.6

-16.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$58.8 $58.8

$52.6 $52.6

11.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$106 $106

$120 $120

-11.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$126 $126

$143 $143

-11.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,102 $2,102

$2,378 $2,378

-11.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,838 $1,838

$1,866 $1,866

-1.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,177 $4,177

$4,724 $4,724

-11.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,689 $3,689

$3,510 $3,510

5.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,854 $8,854

$7,711 $7,711

14.82%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,109 $7,109

$5,381 $5,381

32.11%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,183 $4,183

$6,493 $6,493

-35.57%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.59

6.42

2.65%

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

Last update for Honolulu, HI: April 27, 2026

Last update for Seattle, WA: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,102 in Honolulu, HI versus $2,378 in Seattle, WA. 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 55% higher in Seattle, WA, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $101 in Honolulu, HI versus $119 in Seattle, WA. Groceries tell a different story – $680 in Honolulu, HI vs $544 in Seattle, WA – so Seattle, WA 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 Seattle, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Honolulu, HI costs about 1% more than Seattle, WA, 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 $5,424 per month in Honolulu, HI and $5,374 in Seattle, WA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Seattle, WA, 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 $3,616 in Honolulu, HI and $3,583 in Seattle, WA. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 23% less in Seattle, WA. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,616 in Honolulu, HI and $3,583 in Seattle, WA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Seattle, WA costs $3,583 versus $3,616 in Honolulu, HI. 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 Seattle, WA. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Honolulu, HI makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.