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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,415 per month in New York, NY vs $3,727 in Honolulu, HI, rent included.

A couple spends around $6,980 per month in New York, NY vs $5,716 in Honolulu, HI, rent included.

A family of three spends $9,544 per month in New York, NY vs $7,706 in Honolulu, HI, rent included.

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

Both New York, NY and Honolulu, HI sit above the global median – New York, NY by 230%, Honolulu, HI by 179%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$29.48 $29.48

$23.68 $23.68

24.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$143 $143

$99.4 $99.4

43.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.41 $12.41

$15.09 $15.09

-17.76%

Cappuccino

$6.08 $6.08

$6.95 $6.95

-12.52%

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

$3.33 $3.33

$3.75 $3.75

-11.20%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.79 $2.79

-3.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.17 $8.17

$7.86 $7.86

3.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$12.04 $12.04

$8.88 $8.88

35.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 $1.62

$2.04 $2.04

-20.59%

White Bread (500g)

$5.08 $5.08

$6.79 $6.79

-25.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.12 $8.12

$10.30 $10.30

-21.17%

Eggs

$6.87 $6.87

$7.63 $7.63

-9.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.61 $17.61

$30.22 $30.22

-41.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.41 $16.41

$18.86 $18.86

-12.99%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.81 $19.81

$19.90 $19.90

-0.45%

Apples (1kg)

$7.66 $7.66

$7.12 $7.12

7.58%

Banana (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$4.39 $4.39

-42.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.61 $5.61

$6.32 $6.32

-11.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.40 $6.40

$8.15 $8.15

-21.47%

Potato (1kg)

$3.84 $3.84

$5.17 $5.17

-25.73%

Onion (1kg)

$4.10 $4.10

$4.65 $4.65

-11.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.08 $3.08

$4.99 $4.99

-38.28%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.49 $2.49

$3.07 $3.07

-18.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$18.83 $18.83

$11.89 $11.89

58.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.67 $19.67

$18.06 $18.06

8.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 $2.99

$2.40 $2.40

24.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.75 $3.75

$5.80 $5.80

-35.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.94 $2.94

$3.07 $3.07

-4.23%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$133 $133

$80.4 $80.4

65.20%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.05 $5.05

$3.58 $3.58

41.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.20 $2.20

$2.67 $2.67

-17.60%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.75 $42.75

$45.28 $45.28

-5.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 $0.97

$1.22 $1.22

-20.49%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

$30.2K $30.2K

15.79%

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

$28.3K $28.3K

$24.9K $24.9K

13.56%

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

$182 $182

$234 $234

-22.27%

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

$60.3 $60.3

$65.8 $65.8

-8.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.5 $63.5

$66.8 $66.8

-4.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$143 $143

$57.9 $57.9

146.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$63.6 $63.6

$28.45 $28.45

123.66%

Cinema Ticket

$19.89 $19.89

$15.92 $15.92

24.94%

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

$3,129 $3,129

$1,520 $1,520

105.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$58.2K $58.2K

$20.5K $20.5K

183.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.5 $67.5

$58.2 $58.2

15.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.20 $47.20

$60.8 $60.8

-22.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 $113

$104 $104

7.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$174 $174

$127 $127

37.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,145 $4,145

$2,123 $2,123

95.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,693 $2,693

$1,829 $1,829

47.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,255 $8,255

$4,183 $4,183

97.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,298 $5,298

$3,651 $3,651

45.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.5K $18.5K

$8,855 $8,855

109.33%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,505 $6,505

$7,125 $7,125

-8.70%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,520 $5,520

$4,121 $4,121

33.93%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.59

-2.28%

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

Last update for New York, NY: July 13, 2026

Last update for Honolulu, HI: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $4,145 in New York, NY versus $2,123 in Honolulu, HI. 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 34% 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 $143 in New York, NY versus $99.0 in Honolulu, HI. Groceries tell a different story – $553 in New York, NY vs $674 in Honolulu, HI – 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

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

New York, NY costs about 18% 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 $6,623 per month in New York, NY and $5,590 in Honolulu, HI. 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 $4,415 in New York, NY and $3,727 in Honolulu, HI. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 65% 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 $4,415 in New York, NY and $3,727 in Honolulu, HI. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Honolulu, HI costs $3,727 versus $4,415 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.