Honolulu, HI vs Vallejo, CA: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, Vallejo, CA is 2.2% less expensive than Honolulu, HI (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Honolulu works out to about $73,300 in Vallejo, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is everyday costs rather than housing: goods are 5.7% lower and other services 2.6% lower in Vallejo, while housing is 4.8% higher.
- Utility prices (electricity, gas, water) are 17.2% lower in Vallejo.
- Typical asking rent is $2,464 a month in Vallejo and $3,015 in Honolulu, $6,612 a year less in Vallejo (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $571,000 in Vallejo and $856,000 in Honolulu.
- The gap is about where it was in 2019 (3.5%).
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) and Zillow data. Based on an average household's spending; taxes not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both cities against the US average (100). The gap in each row is what matters for a move.
Everyday costs, not housing, drive the gap between Honolulu and Vallejo
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Honolulu, HI
- Vallejo, CA
All items Honolulu, HI: 111.0 Vallejo, CA: 108.5
Goods Honolulu, HI: 111.6 Vallejo, CA: 105.2
Housing (rents) Honolulu, HI: 135.5 Vallejo, CA: 142.0
Utilities Honolulu, HI: 187.3 Vallejo, CA: 155.0
Other services Honolulu, HI: 102.9 Vallejo, CA: 100.3
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Honolulu, HI | Vallejo, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 111.0 | 108.5 |
| Goods | 111.6 | 105.2 |
| Housing (rents) | 135.5 | 142.0 |
| Utilities | 187.3 | 155.0 |
| Other services | 102.9 | 100.3 |
| Category | Honolulu | Vallejo | Vallejo vs Honolulu |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 111.0 | 108.5 | −2.2% |
| Goods | 111.6 | 105.2 | −5.7% |
| Housing (rents) | 135.5 | 142.0 | +4.8% |
| Utilities | 187.3 | 155.0 | −17.2% |
| Other services | 102.9 | 100.3 | −2.6% |
| Typical asking rent | $3,015 | $2,464 | −18.3% |
| Typical home value | $856,000 | $571,000 | −33.3% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Honolulu | $75,000 | $73,300 | −2.2% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent and home values: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Honolulu and Vallejo has narrowed since 2008: 4.9 points then, 2.5 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Honolulu, HI
- Vallejo, CA
US average = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Honolulu, HI | Vallejo, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 111.9 | 116.8 |
| 2009 | 117.6 | 113.7 |
| 2010 | 112.4 | 111.9 |
| 2011 | 113.1 | 109.5 |
| 2012 | 112.4 | 109.7 |
| 2013 | 115.7 | 110.2 |
| 2014 | 114.6 | 110.7 |
| 2015 | 114.0 | 112.7 |
| 2016 | 113.4 | 113.1 |
| 2017 | 113.6 | 117.6 |
| 2018 | 112.8 | 110.5 |
| 2019 | 113.2 | 109.2 |
| 2020 | 115.7 | 110.7 |
| 2021 | 114.1 | 109.4 |
| 2022 | 113.1 | 112.6 |
| 2023 | 111.4 | 109.4 |
| 2024 | 111.0 | 108.5 |
Goods
- Honolulu, HI
- Vallejo, CA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Honolulu, HI | Vallejo, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 109.4 | 117.8 |
| 2009 | 112.3 | 110.0 |
| 2010 | 112.3 | 107.0 |
| 2011 | 112.8 | 105.5 |
| 2012 | 109.8 | 108.0 |
| 2013 | 114.8 | 109.9 |
| 2014 | 114.2 | 108.8 |
| 2015 | 113.6 | 111.4 |
| 2016 | 115.7 | 111.2 |
| 2017 | 117.6 | 114.0 |
| 2018 | 116.6 | 105.3 |
| 2019 | 115.3 | 104.8 |
| 2020 | 112.4 | 104.5 |
| 2021 | 110.1 | 106.9 |
| 2022 | 112.0 | 109.0 |
| 2023 | 110.3 | 104.9 |
| 2024 | 111.6 | 105.2 |
Housing (rents)
- Honolulu, HI
- Vallejo, CA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Honolulu, HI | Vallejo, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 166.3 | 154.0 |
| 2009 | 175.2 | 158.8 |
| 2010 | 160.8 | 149.7 |
| 2011 | 162.0 | 143.2 |
| 2012 | 165.4 | 141.3 |
| 2013 | 171.5 | 141.1 |
| 2014 | 173.0 | 140.6 |
| 2015 | 176.5 | 148.0 |
| 2016 | 158.3 | 149.3 |
| 2017 | 174.1 | 146.4 |
| 2018 | 162.3 | 152.4 |
| 2019 | 158.0 | 149.7 |
| 2020 | 159.0 | 162.4 |
| 2021 | 155.3 | 158.5 |
| 2022 | 148.6 | 151.4 |
| 2023 | 143.4 | 135.6 |
| 2024 | 135.5 | 142.0 |
Utilities
- Honolulu, HI
- Vallejo, CA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Honolulu, HI | Vallejo, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 266.0 | 116.4 |
| 2009 | 219.0 | 116.7 |
| 2010 | 161.1 | 119.6 |
| 2011 | 222.2 | 114.1 |
| 2012 | 218.6 | 110.8 |
| 2013 | 225.5 | 130.7 |
| 2014 | 206.8 | 135.8 |
| 2015 | 186.6 | 143.3 |
| 2016 | 171.0 | 145.6 |
| 2017 | 175.7 | 153.4 |
| 2018 | 191.1 | 120.7 |
| 2019 | 200.7 | 128.6 |
| 2020 | 187.1 | 132.0 |
| 2021 | 178.0 | 140.7 |
| 2022 | 191.8 | 146.0 |
| 2023 | 190.3 | 139.2 |
| 2024 | 187.3 | 155.0 |
Other services
- Honolulu, HI
- Vallejo, CA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Honolulu, HI | Vallejo, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 98.2 | 107.0 |
| 2009 | 104.9 | 104.0 |
| 2010 | 100.0 | 104.1 |
| 2011 | 99.6 | 102.7 |
| 2012 | 99.5 | 102.2 |
| 2013 | 101.1 | 101.6 |
| 2014 | 99.7 | 103.2 |
| 2015 | 99.5 | 104.3 |
| 2016 | 100.0 | 104.9 |
| 2017 | 97.6 | 111.0 |
| 2018 | 98.3 | 103.7 |
| 2019 | 100.2 | 101.8 |
| 2020 | 104.0 | 100.4 |
| 2021 | 104.4 | 98.6 |
| 2022 | 102.8 | 103.9 |
| 2023 | 102.1 | 104.2 |
| 2024 | 102.9 | 100.3 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $2,464 in Vallejo vs $3,015 in Honolulu
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Honolulu, HI
- Vallejo, CA
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Honolulu, HI | Vallejo, CA | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $2,001 | $1,397 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $2,031 | $1,442 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $2,046 | $1,470 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $2,060 | $1,494 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $2,054 | $1,515 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $2,079 | $1,559 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $2,069 | $1,577 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $2,060 | $1,592 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $2,098 | $1,637 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $2,116 | $1,683 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $2,114 | $1,719 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $2,125 | $1,718 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $2,134 | $1,750 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $2,152 | $1,797 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $2,158 | $1,813 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $2,159 | $1,820 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $2,188 | $1,852 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $2,196 | $1,894 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $2,222 | $1,903 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $2,216 | $1,917 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $2,227 | $1,934 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $2,204 | $1,922 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $2,211 | $1,992 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $2,233 | $2,036 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $2,287 | $2,049 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $2,361 | $2,100 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $2,453 | $2,172 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $2,464 | $2,201 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $2,516 | $2,214 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $2,540 | $2,281 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $2,566 | $2,284 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $2,562 | $2,237 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $2,608 | $2,271 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $2,635 | $2,284 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $2,650 | $2,292 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $2,654 | $2,270 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $2,700 | $2,313 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $2,738 | $2,344 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $2,763 | $2,373 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $2,792 | $2,354 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $2,808 | $2,381 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $2,872 | $2,399 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $2,897 | $2,404 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $2,915 | $2,369 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $2,947 | $2,392 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $3,015 | $2,417 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $3,015 | $2,464 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $571,000 in Vallejo vs $856,000 in Honolulu
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Honolulu, HI
- Vallejo, CA
- United States
Source: Zillow Home Value Index (typical home value, middle tier, smoothed, seasonally adjusted), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Honolulu, HI | Vallejo, CA | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $547K | $326K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $550K | $334K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $560K | $344K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $568K | $352K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $577K | $360K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $583K | $367K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $594K | $378K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $606K | $386K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $615K | $393K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $623K | $401K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $630K | $408K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $640K | $419K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $648K | $431K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $656K | $439K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $661K | $445K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $661K | $448K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $660K | $450K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $662K | $451K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $660K | $452K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $660K | $457K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $665K | $463K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $666K | $467K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $670K | $473K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $689K | $494K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $710K | $517K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $745K | $544K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $765K | $564K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $785K | $575K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $845K | $603K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $881K | $623K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $870K | $605K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $856K | $585K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $838K | $571K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $845K | $576K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $848K | $585K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $845K | $587K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $845K | $591K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $851K | $595K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $849K | $592K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $852K | $593K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $848K | $591K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $838K | $583K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $834K | $576K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $843K | $575K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $848K | $574K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $846K | $570K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $856K | $571K | $366K |
More about each city
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State and local income, sales and property taxes can change the result a lot, especially between states.
- Neighborhoods. These are metro-wide averages; a city center and its outer suburbs can differ by more than two metros do.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider above if rent is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels are for 2024; Zillow figures are monthly and newer.