Hawaii vs California: cost of living compared
Statewide price levels and incomes from BEA (2024); gas prices from EIA (weekly).
Is it cheaper to live in Hawaii or California?
- Overall, living costs in California and Hawaii are within 1% of each other (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Hawaii works out to about $75,500 in California, before taxes.
- Housing is 23.2% higher in California, goods 4.9% lower and other services 0.3% lower, which roughly cancel out.
- Utility prices (electricity, gas, water) are 16.4% lower in California.
- After adjusting for local prices, personal income per person is $63,028 in California and $52,272 in Hawaii (20.6% higher in California; BEA, 2024, in 2017 dollars).
- Inside each state, metro price levels run from 95.2 in El Centro, CA to 115.6 in San Francisco, CA (California) and from 109.4 in Kahului, HI to 111.0 in Honolulu, HI (Hawaii), US = 100.
- The gap is about where it was in 2019 (0.6%).
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities and real personal income by state. Statewide averages mix cities and rural areas; taxes are not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both states against the US average (100).
Overall prices are about the same in Hawaii and California
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Hawaii
- California
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Hawaii | California | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 110.0 | 110.7 |
| Goods | 111.6 | 106.1 |
| Housing (rents) | 125.3 | 154.3 |
| Utilities | 190.2 | 158.9 |
| Other services | 102.9 | 102.6 |
| Category | Hawaii | California | California vs Hawaii |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 110.0 | 110.7 | +0.7% |
| Goods | 111.6 | 106.1 | −4.9% |
| Housing (rents) | 125.3 | 154.3 | +23.2% |
| Utilities | 190.2 | 158.9 | −16.4% |
| Other services | 102.9 | 102.6 | −0.3% |
| Income per person, adjusted for prices | $52,272 | $63,028 | +20.6% |
| Regular gas, week of October 19, 2026* | $5.56 | $6.03 | +8.5% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Hawaii | $75,000 | $75,500 | +0.7% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Income: BEA real personal income per person, 2017 dollars. Gas: EIA weekly retail prices. *West Coast region average (EIA has no separate Hawaii figure).
Cheapest and most expensive places in each state
Hawaii
- Kahului, HI 109.4
- Honolulu, HI 111.0
California
- El Centro, CA 95.2
- Merced, CA 98.3
- Visalia, CA 99.8
- Redding, CA 100.7
- Bakersfield, CA 100.9
- Chico, CA 101.2
- Hanford, CA 101.6
- Fresno, CA 102.2
- Modesto, CA 104.1
- Yuba City, CA 104.2
- Stockton, CA 105.1
- Riverside, CA 106.4
- Sacramento, CA 106.7
- Santa Rosa, CA 107.8
- Vallejo, CA 108.5
- San Luis Obispo, CA 108.6
- Santa Maria, CA 108.8
- Salinas, CA 109.0
- Santa Cruz, CA 109.9
- San Jose, CA 110.4
- Oxnard, CA 110.5
- San Diego, CA 111.9
- Napa, CA 112.6
- Los Angeles, CA 113.6
- San Francisco, CA 115.6
Metro areas ordered from cheapest to most expensive. BEA, 2024, US = 100.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Hawaii and California has been fairly stable since 2008
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Hawaii
- California
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Hawaii | California | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 109.8 | 111.2 |
| 2009 | 112.7 | 110.7 |
| 2010 | 109.6 | 109.7 |
| 2011 | 109.9 | 109.5 |
| 2012 | 108.4 | 109.7 |
| 2013 | 112.3 | 109.7 |
| 2014 | 110.6 | 109.9 |
| 2015 | 111.5 | 110.7 |
| 2016 | 109.9 | 110.0 |
| 2017 | 110.5 | 111.0 |
| 2018 | 110.9 | 111.9 |
| 2019 | 111.8 | 111.1 |
| 2020 | 113.3 | 111.9 |
| 2021 | 112.6 | 111.9 |
| 2022 | 111.1 | 112.6 |
| 2023 | 109.7 | 112.2 |
| 2024 | 110.0 | 110.7 |
Goods
- Hawaii
- California
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Hawaii | California | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 106.8 | 107.4 |
| 2009 | 108.9 | 104.7 |
| 2010 | 108.6 | 103.0 |
| 2011 | 108.5 | 103.6 |
| 2012 | 106.2 | 104.1 |
| 2013 | 109.0 | 104.3 |
| 2014 | 109.1 | 104.3 |
| 2015 | 110.7 | 105.5 |
| 2016 | 112.3 | 104.4 |
| 2017 | 112.6 | 104.5 |
| 2018 | 116.6 | 105.5 |
| 2019 | 115.3 | 106.2 |
| 2020 | 112.4 | 106.7 |
| 2021 | 110.1 | 108.1 |
| 2022 | 112.0 | 108.4 |
| 2023 | 110.3 | 106.8 |
| 2024 | 111.6 | 106.1 |
Housing (rents)
- Hawaii
- California
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Hawaii | California | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 146.8 | 161.4 |
| 2009 | 145.9 | 160.4 |
| 2010 | 143.1 | 158.0 |
| 2011 | 143.0 | 157.1 |
| 2012 | 137.6 | 156.2 |
| 2013 | 153.5 | 155.7 |
| 2014 | 146.5 | 157.9 |
| 2015 | 153.7 | 158.0 |
| 2016 | 139.3 | 160.1 |
| 2017 | 149.7 | 162.5 |
| 2018 | 143.0 | 163.8 |
| 2019 | 142.6 | 164.6 |
| 2020 | 136.4 | 166.3 |
| 2021 | 140.3 | 165.0 |
| 2022 | 132.3 | 160.1 |
| 2023 | 128.7 | 157.8 |
| 2024 | 125.3 | 154.3 |
Utilities
- Hawaii
- California
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Hawaii | California | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 210.6 | 111.4 |
| 2009 | 180.3 | 112.8 |
| 2010 | 161.4 | 117.2 |
| 2011 | 214.6 | 115.3 |
| 2012 | 209.7 | 117.1 |
| 2013 | 210.0 | 121.4 |
| 2014 | 195.3 | 128.3 |
| 2015 | 176.9 | 129.3 |
| 2016 | 168.7 | 129.5 |
| 2017 | 170.0 | 130.7 |
| 2018 | 195.3 | 125.1 |
| 2019 | 203.8 | 131.0 |
| 2020 | 189.8 | 133.5 |
| 2021 | 182.0 | 144.2 |
| 2022 | 196.4 | 152.3 |
| 2023 | 191.7 | 147.3 |
| 2024 | 190.2 | 158.9 |
Other services
- Hawaii
- California
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Hawaii | California | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 99.2 | 101.9 |
| 2009 | 103.5 | 102.0 |
| 2010 | 99.4 | 101.7 |
| 2011 | 99.5 | 101.6 |
| 2012 | 99.1 | 101.9 |
| 2013 | 100.9 | 101.8 |
| 2014 | 99.7 | 101.9 |
| 2015 | 99.8 | 102.8 |
| 2016 | 99.1 | 101.9 |
| 2017 | 98.3 | 103.3 |
| 2018 | 98.3 | 104.3 |
| 2019 | 100.2 | 102.4 |
| 2020 | 104.0 | 101.9 |
| 2021 | 104.4 | 102.1 |
| 2022 | 102.8 | 103.9 |
| 2023 | 102.1 | 104.4 |
| 2024 | 102.9 | 102.6 |
What incomes buy in each state
Income per person after adjusting for prices: $63,028 in California, $52,272 in Hawaii
Real personal income per person, constant 2017 dollars (adjusted for each state's price level and for inflation).
- Hawaii
- California
- United States
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, real personal income by state (SARPI), 2008–2024.
Show the numbers
| Hawaii | California | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | $42,828 | $43,788 | $45,816 |
| 2009 | $41,102 | $42,377 | $44,204 |
| 2010 | $41,904 | $43,503 | $44,808 |
| 2011 | $41,967 | $44,844 | $45,957 |
| 2012 | $42,532 | $46,162 | $46,796 |
| 2013 | $40,531 | $45,826 | $46,358 |
| 2014 | $42,363 | $47,472 | $47,661 |
| 2015 | $43,533 | $50,054 | $49,396 |
| 2016 | $45,054 | $51,802 | $49,828 |
| 2017 | $45,829 | $52,569 | $51,006 |
| 2018 | $45,636 | $53,523 | $52,242 |
| 2019 | $46,712 | $55,931 | $53,683 |
| 2020 | $48,228 | $59,993 | $56,514 |
| 2021 | $50,046 | $63,373 | $59,365 |
| 2022 | $49,022 | $59,126 | $57,104 |
| 2023 | $50,923 | $60,100 | $58,088 |
| 2024 | $52,272 | $63,028 | $59,195 |
More
- Cost of living in Hawaii
- Cost of living in California
- Reverse: moving from California to Hawaii
- All states ranked
Related state comparisons
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State income, sales and property taxes differ a lot between states and are not included.
- Where you live inside the state. Statewide figures average cities and rural areas; the metro lists above show the spread.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider if housing is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels and incomes are for 2024; gas prices are weekly.