Honolulu vs Surprise
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Honolulu
Surprise
The Verdict
Surprise is 80.6% less expensive than Honolulu overall. A household earning $75,000 in Honolulu would need approximately $41,532 in Surprise to maintain the same standard of living.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Honolulu has the same purchasing power as $41,532 in Surprise.
Conversely, $75,000 in Surprise equals $135,437 in Honolulu.
Living in Honolulu vs Surprise
Housing Costs
Honolulu's housing index of 275 is higher Surprise's 105, translating to median home prices of $720,000 vs $419,000. The $301,000 difference in home prices means roughly $19,560 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $2,400/mo in Honolulu compared to $1,575/mo in Surprise, a monthly difference of $825.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 138 in Honolulu and 100 in Surprise. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $656/month in Honolulu vs $475/month in Surprise. Surprise 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 102 in Surprise. Monthly utility bills average approximately $636 in Honolulu vs $408 in Surprise. 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 97 in Surprise. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 10-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 $85,500 in Surprise. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $38,422 and $83,010 respectively. Surprise 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 $1,995/month in Surprise. In Honolulu, median rent of $2,400/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Surprise, median rent of $1,575/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 170 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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