City Comparison

Honolulu vs Sioux City

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Honolulu

Hawaii
186
Very Expensive
$720,000
Median Home
$2,400/mo
Median Rent
$71,465
Median Income

Sioux City

Iowa
86
Below Average
$182,000
Median Home
$875/mo
Median Rent
$65,500
Median Income

The Verdict

116.3%

Living in Sioux City costs 116.3% less than Honolulu. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Honolulu, you would need $34,677 in Sioux City.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
275
Honolulu
74
Sioux City
Groceries
138
Honolulu
97
Sioux City
Utilities
159
Honolulu
89
Sioux City
Transportation
114
Honolulu
92
Sioux City
Healthcare
107
Honolulu
101
Sioux City

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Honolulu has the same purchasing power as $34,677 in Sioux City.

Conversely, $75,000 in Sioux City equals $162,209 in Honolulu.

Living in Honolulu vs Sioux City

Housing Costs

Honolulu's housing index of 275 is higher Sioux City's 74, translating to median home prices of $720,000 vs $182,000. The $538,000 difference in home prices means roughly $34,968 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $2,400/mo in Honolulu compared to $875/mo in Sioux City, a monthly difference of $1,525.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 138 in Honolulu and 97 in Sioux City. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $656/month in Honolulu vs $461/month in Sioux City. Sioux City offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $2340/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 159 in Honolulu and 89 in Sioux City. Monthly utility bills average approximately $636 in Honolulu vs $356 in Sioux City. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 107 in Honolulu and 101 in Sioux City. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $71,465 in Honolulu and $65,500 in Sioux City. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $38,422 and $76,163 respectively. Sioux City residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,668/month to housing in Honolulu vs $1,528/month in Sioux City. In Honolulu, median rent of $2,400/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Sioux City, median rent of $875/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 201 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sioux City is 116.3% more affordable overall with an index of 86 vs 186.
A $75,000 salary in Honolulu has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $34,677 in Sioux City, based on the cost of living difference.
Honolulu's housing index is 275 with median homes at $720,000, while Sioux City's is 74 with median homes at $182,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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