CostIndexUSA

Honolulu, HI vs Monroe, LA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

HI
Honolulu
100
overall index
$1,500/mo rent
More AffordableLA
Monroe
83.6
overall index
$1,100/mo rent

Monroe is significantly cheaper than Honolulu — 16.4% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Honolulu, you would need $66,900 in Monroe. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing−57.2%
Honolulu
100
Monroe
42.8
🛒 Groceries−6.3%
Honolulu
100
Monroe
93.7
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Honolulu
100
Monroe
100.5
🏥 Healthcare−9.1%
Honolulu
100
Monroe
90.9
⚡ Utilities−27.8%
Honolulu
100
Monroe
72.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
→
Equivalent salary in Monroe, LA
$66,900
$13,100 less needed in Monroe

Formula: salary × (83.6 ÷ 100) = salary × 0.8360. 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×

Monroe, LA

Median Home Price
$157,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,100
Housing Index
42.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
11.9×

Honolulu has 57.2% lower housing costs compared to Monroe.

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

Monroe, LA

Median Household Income
$50,300
Per Capita Income
$28,700
Unemployment Rate
7.3%
Population
47,252
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationManufacturingGovernmentRetail

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)

Monroe, LA
3.8×income-to-rent ratio

74% of income left after rent (median)

Honolulu vs other cities

Honolulu, HI
vs
Kahului, HI
Index: 100Index: 109.4
Honolulu, HI
vs
Anaheim, CA
Index: 100Index: 113.6
Honolulu, HI
vs
Aurora, CO
Index: 100Index: 105.8
Honolulu, HI
vs
Cleveland, OH
Index: 100Index: 93.9
Honolulu, HI
vs
Corpus Christi, TX
Index: 100Index: 92.7

Monroe vs other cities

Monroe, LA
vs
Baton Rouge, LA
Index: 83.6Index: 90.8
Monroe, LA
vs
Lafayette, LA
Index: 83.6Index: 87.2
Monroe, LA
vs
Lake Charles, LA
Index: 83.6Index: 85.9
Monroe, LA
vs
Charleston, WV
Index: 83.6Index: 88.7
Monroe, LA
vs
San Luis Obispo, CA
Index: 83.6Index: 108.6

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.