City Comparison

Honolulu vs St George

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Honolulu

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

St George

Utah
110
Above Average
$550,000
Median Home
$1,525/mo
Median Rent
$72,400
Median Income

The Verdict

69.1%

Living in St George costs 69.1% less than Honolulu. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Honolulu, you would need $44,355 in St George.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
275
Honolulu
144
St George
Groceries
138
Honolulu
100
St George
Utilities
159
Honolulu
87
St George
Transportation
114
Honolulu
104
St George
Healthcare
107
Honolulu
96
St George

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Honolulu has the same purchasing power as $44,355 in St George.

Conversely, $75,000 in St George equals $126,818 in Honolulu.

Living in Honolulu vs St George

Housing Costs

Honolulu's housing index of 275 is higher St George's 144, translating to median home prices of $720,000 vs $550,000. The $170,000 difference in home prices means roughly $11,052 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $2,400/mo in Honolulu compared to $1,525/mo in St George, a monthly difference of $875.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 138 in Honolulu and 100 in St George. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $656/month in Honolulu vs $475/month in St George. St George offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $2172/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 159 in Honolulu and 87 in St George. Monthly utility bills average approximately $636 in Honolulu vs $348 in St George. 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 96 in St George. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 11-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $71,465 in Honolulu and $72,400 in St George. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $38,422 and $65,818 respectively. St George 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 $1,689/month in St George. In Honolulu, median rent of $2,400/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In St George, median rent of $1,525/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 131 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

St George is 69.1% more affordable overall with an index of 110 vs 186.
A $75,000 salary in Honolulu has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $44,355 in St George, based on the cost of living difference.
Honolulu's housing index is 275 with median homes at $720,000, while St George's is 144 with median homes at $550,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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