San Francisco, CA vs Honolulu, HI: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, Honolulu, HI is 4.0% less expensive than San Francisco, CA (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in San Francisco works out to about $72,000 in Honolulu, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is housing, which costs 30.4% less in Honolulu. Goods are 2.9% higher and other services 3.1% lower.
- Typical asking rent is $3,015 a month in Honolulu and $3,445 in San Francisco, $5,160 a year less in Honolulu (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $856,000 in Honolulu and $1,120,000 in San Francisco.
- The gap is about where it was in 2019 (5.5%).
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.
Housing drives the gap: 30.4% lower in Honolulu than in San Francisco
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- San Francisco, CA
- Honolulu, HI
All items San Francisco, CA: 115.6 Honolulu, HI: 111.0
Goods San Francisco, CA: 108.5 Honolulu, HI: 111.6
Housing (rents) San Francisco, CA: 194.7 Honolulu, HI: 135.5
Utilities San Francisco, CA: 172.6 Honolulu, HI: 187.3
Other services San Francisco, CA: 106.2 Honolulu, HI: 102.9
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| San Francisco, CA | Honolulu, HI | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 115.6 | 111.0 |
| Goods | 108.5 | 111.6 |
| Housing (rents) | 194.7 | 135.5 |
| Utilities | 172.6 | 187.3 |
| Other services | 106.2 | 102.9 |
| Category | San Francisco | Honolulu | Honolulu vs San Francisco |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 115.6 | 111.0 | −4.0% |
| Goods | 108.5 | 111.6 | +2.9% |
| Housing (rents) | 194.7 | 135.5 | −30.4% |
| Utilities | 172.6 | 187.3 | +8.5% |
| Other services | 106.2 | 102.9 | −3.1% |
| Typical asking rent | $3,445 | $3,015 | −12.5% |
| Typical home value | $1,120,000 | $856,000 | −23.6% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in San Francisco | $75,000 | $72,000 | −4.0% |
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 San Francisco and Honolulu has narrowed since 2008: 7.2 points then, 4.7 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- San Francisco, CA
- Honolulu, HI
US average = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| San Francisco, CA | Honolulu, HI | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 119.1 | 111.9 |
| 2009 | 115.2 | 117.6 |
| 2010 | 113.9 | 112.4 |
| 2011 | 112.4 | 113.1 |
| 2012 | 112.5 | 112.4 |
| 2013 | 112.9 | 115.7 |
| 2014 | 114.0 | 114.6 |
| 2015 | 115.8 | 114.0 |
| 2016 | 116.4 | 113.4 |
| 2017 | 121.6 | 113.6 |
| 2018 | 122.3 | 112.8 |
| 2019 | 119.7 | 113.2 |
| 2020 | 119.6 | 115.7 |
| 2021 | 120.0 | 114.1 |
| 2022 | 118.0 | 113.1 |
| 2023 | 117.6 | 111.4 |
| 2024 | 115.6 | 111.0 |
Goods
- San Francisco, CA
- Honolulu, HI
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| San Francisco, CA | Honolulu, HI | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 117.8 | 109.4 |
| 2009 | 110.0 | 112.3 |
| 2010 | 107.0 | 112.3 |
| 2011 | 105.5 | 112.8 |
| 2012 | 108.0 | 109.8 |
| 2013 | 109.9 | 114.8 |
| 2014 | 108.8 | 114.2 |
| 2015 | 111.4 | 113.6 |
| 2016 | 111.2 | 115.7 |
| 2017 | 114.0 | 117.6 |
| 2018 | 116.2 | 116.6 |
| 2019 | 113.8 | 115.3 |
| 2020 | 113.0 | 112.4 |
| 2021 | 113.8 | 110.1 |
| 2022 | 114.4 | 112.0 |
| 2023 | 115.2 | 110.3 |
| 2024 | 108.5 | 111.6 |
Housing (rents)
- San Francisco, CA
- Honolulu, HI
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| San Francisco, CA | Honolulu, HI | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 191.0 | 166.3 |
| 2009 | 192.1 | 175.2 |
| 2010 | 189.2 | 160.8 |
| 2011 | 191.9 | 162.0 |
| 2012 | 189.0 | 165.4 |
| 2013 | 190.7 | 171.5 |
| 2014 | 198.1 | 173.0 |
| 2015 | 204.5 | 176.5 |
| 2016 | 210.4 | 158.3 |
| 2017 | 215.2 | 174.1 |
| 2018 | 219.7 | 162.3 |
| 2019 | 213.0 | 158.0 |
| 2020 | 227.1 | 159.0 |
| 2021 | 213.5 | 155.3 |
| 2022 | 206.3 | 148.6 |
| 2023 | 200.1 | 143.4 |
| 2024 | 194.7 | 135.5 |
Utilities
- San Francisco, CA
- Honolulu, HI
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| San Francisco, CA | Honolulu, HI | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 115.6 | 266.0 |
| 2009 | 115.7 | 219.0 |
| 2010 | 118.5 | 161.1 |
| 2011 | 113.2 | 222.2 |
| 2012 | 110.3 | 218.6 |
| 2013 | 130.1 | 225.5 |
| 2014 | 135.1 | 206.8 |
| 2015 | 142.5 | 186.6 |
| 2016 | 145.5 | 171.0 |
| 2017 | 152.4 | 175.7 |
| 2018 | 158.4 | 191.1 |
| 2019 | 162.8 | 200.7 |
| 2020 | 161.3 | 187.1 |
| 2021 | 167.0 | 178.0 |
| 2022 | 170.4 | 191.8 |
| 2023 | 162.2 | 190.3 |
| 2024 | 172.6 | 187.3 |
Other services
- San Francisco, CA
- Honolulu, HI
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| San Francisco, CA | Honolulu, HI | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 107.0 | 98.2 |
| 2009 | 104.0 | 104.9 |
| 2010 | 104.1 | 100.0 |
| 2011 | 102.7 | 99.6 |
| 2012 | 102.2 | 99.5 |
| 2013 | 101.6 | 101.1 |
| 2014 | 103.2 | 99.7 |
| 2015 | 104.3 | 99.5 |
| 2016 | 104.9 | 100.0 |
| 2017 | 111.0 | 97.6 |
| 2018 | 110.8 | 98.3 |
| 2019 | 108.6 | 100.2 |
| 2020 | 105.2 | 104.0 |
| 2021 | 108.2 | 104.4 |
| 2022 | 105.9 | 102.8 |
| 2023 | 105.4 | 102.1 |
| 2024 | 106.2 | 102.9 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $3,015 in Honolulu vs $3,445 in San Francisco
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- San Francisco, CA
- Honolulu, HI
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| San Francisco, CA | Honolulu, HI | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $2,247 | $2,001 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $2,348 | $2,031 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $2,413 | $2,046 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $2,413 | $2,060 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $2,448 | $2,054 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $2,505 | $2,079 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $2,507 | $2,069 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $2,467 | $2,060 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $2,518 | $2,098 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $2,570 | $2,116 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $2,597 | $2,114 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $2,583 | $2,125 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $2,614 | $2,134 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $2,663 | $2,152 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $2,687 | $2,158 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $2,675 | $2,159 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $2,703 | $2,188 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $2,742 | $2,196 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $2,761 | $2,222 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $2,744 | $2,216 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $2,768 | $2,227 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $2,732 | $2,204 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $2,618 | $2,211 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $2,520 | $2,233 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $2,549 | $2,287 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $2,647 | $2,361 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $2,739 | $2,453 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $2,732 | $2,464 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $2,797 | $2,516 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $2,863 | $2,540 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $2,887 | $2,566 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $2,830 | $2,562 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $2,859 | $2,608 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $2,874 | $2,635 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $2,878 | $2,650 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $2,831 | $2,654 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $2,869 | $2,700 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $2,913 | $2,738 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $2,926 | $2,763 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $2,915 | $2,792 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $2,975 | $2,808 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $3,041 | $2,872 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $3,082 | $2,897 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $3,084 | $2,915 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $3,161 | $2,947 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $3,291 | $3,015 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $3,445 | $3,015 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $856,000 in Honolulu vs $1,120,000 in San Francisco
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- San Francisco, CA
- Honolulu, HI
- 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
| San Francisco, CA | Honolulu, HI | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $669K | $547K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $693K | $550K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $715K | $560K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $739K | $568K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $765K | $577K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $770K | $583K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $765K | $594K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $774K | $606K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $794K | $615K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $809K | $623K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $821K | $630K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $848K | $640K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $881K | $648K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $905K | $656K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $912K | $661K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $914K | $661K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $905K | $660K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $901K | $662K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $906K | $660K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $912K | $660K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $926K | $665K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $926K | $666K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $934K | $670K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $972K | $689K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $1.01M | $710K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $1.06M | $745K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $1.09M | $765K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $1.11M | $785K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $1.18M | $845K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $1.22M | $881K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $1.16M | $870K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $1.11M | $856K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $1.07M | $838K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $1.08M | $845K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $1.1M | $848K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $1.1M | $845K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $1.1M | $845K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $1.13M | $851K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $1.13M | $849K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $1.13M | $852K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $1.12M | $848K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $1.1M | $838K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $1.09M | $834K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $1.1M | $843K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $1.1M | $848K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $1.11M | $846K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $1.12M | $856K | $366K |
More about each city
- Cost of living in San Francisco, CA
- Cost of living in Honolulu, HI
- Reverse: moving from Honolulu to San Francisco
Related comparisons
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.