CostIndexUSA

Honolulu, HI vs Rochester, NY Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

HI
Honolulu
100
overall index
$1,500/mo rent
More AffordableNY
Rochester
97
overall index
$1,475/mo rent

Rochester is slightly cheaper than Honolulu — 3.0% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Honolulu, you would need $77,600 in Rochester. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing12.5%
Honolulu
100
Rochester
87.5
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Honolulu
100
Rochester
99.7
🚗 Transportation+2.6%
Honolulu
100
Rochester
102.6
🏥 Healthcare7.1%
Honolulu
100
Rochester
92.9
Utilities+33.2%
Honolulu
100
Rochester
133.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Rochester, NY
$77,600
$2,400 less needed in Rochester

Formula: salary × (97 ÷ 100) = salary × 0.9700. 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×

Rochester, NY

Median Home Price
$262,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,475
Housing Index
87.5
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.8×

Honolulu has 12.5% lower housing costs compared to Rochester.

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

Rochester, NY

Median Household Income
$73,300
Per Capita Income
$41,800
Unemployment Rate
3.9%
Population
211,328
Top Industries
HealthcareTechnologyEducationManufacturingFinance

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)

Rochester, NY
4.1×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.