Hawaii vs. California: Side-by-Side Comparison
Where we can't confirm a current number from a primary source, we link the source instead of guessing.
| Category | Hawaii | California | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| State income tax | Graduated, top rate 11% | Graduated, top rate 13.3% plus 1.1% SDI on wages | State revenue departments |
| Sales tax | General Excise Tax 4%, 4.5% on Oahu, Kauai and Hawaii Island with county surcharge | 7.25% statewide base plus local district taxes | State revenue departments |
| Median home value | See Census QuickFacts | See Census QuickFacts | census.gov/quickfacts |
| Median rent | See Census QuickFacts | See Census QuickFacts | census.gov/quickfacts |
| Electricity price | Among the highest in the U.S. | See EIA state data | eia.gov |
| Gasoline | See EIA / AAA | See EIA / AAA | eia.gov |
| Climate | Tropical, mild year-round | Ranges from mild coastal fog to inland heat above 100°F and real snow in the Sierra. San Diego and coastal Southern California are the gentlest change from island weather. | NOAA climate normals |
Sources
- California Franchise Tax Board
- U.S. Census Bureau — QuickFacts (median home value, rent, population)
- BLS — Consumer Price Index by region
- EIA — electricity and gasoline prices by state
- NOAA — climate normals
- Hawaii Department of Taxation
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