CostIndexUSA

Honolulu, HI vs Madison, WI Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

HI
Honolulu
100
overall index
$1,500/mo rent
More AffordableWI
Madison
97.3
overall index
$1,625/mo rent

Madison is slightly cheaper than Honolulu — 2.7% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Honolulu, you would need $77,800 in Madison. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing≈ Equal
Honolulu
100
Madison
99.7
🛒 Groceries6.2%
Honolulu
100
Madison
93.8
🚗 Transportation+4.4%
Honolulu
100
Madison
104.4
🏥 Healthcare5.6%
Honolulu
100
Madison
94.4
Utilities10.2%
Honolulu
100
Madison
89.8

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Honolulu to see what you'd need to earn in Madison to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Madison, WI
$77,800
$2,200 less needed in Madison

Formula: salary × (97.3 ÷ 100) = salary × 0.9730. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Honolulu, HI

Median Home Price
$420,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,500
Housing Index
100
Price-to-Rent Ratio
23.3×

Madison, WI

Median Home Price
$429,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,625
Housing Index
99.7
Price-to-Rent Ratio
22.0×

Income & Job Market

Honolulu, HI

Median Household Income
$75,000
Per Capita Income
$42,700
Unemployment Rate
3.7%
Population
350,964
Top Industries
TourismMilitaryHealthcareGovernmentRetail

Madison, WI

Median Household Income
$82,100
Per Capita Income
$46,800
Unemployment Rate
2.2%
Population
269,186
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareGovernmentTechnologyFinance

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Honolulu, HI
4.2×income-to-rent ratio

76% of income left after rent (median)

Madison, WI
4.2×income-to-rent ratio

76% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.