Tool
What Would Your Life Cost Somewhere Else?
Compare what you spend in Hawaii with the mainland — the Lower-48 average, one destination or three side by side. Pick your places, answer five questions, and change any number to match your real life.
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1. Where are you, and where might you go?
2. Five quick questions
Your estimated monthly difference
This tool compares living expenses only. It does not model income, state income tax or sales tax.
Overall price level
Hawaii prices are 110.0% of the U.S. average.
Statewide: Hawaii · 2024 annual · BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (via FRED)Las Vegas prices are 100.2% of the U.S. average.
Metro: Las Vegas · 2024 annual · BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (via FRED)BEA Regional Price Parities compare broad 2024 price levels with U.S. = 100, not your household's spending. Rent, goods and other-services indexes measure different categories. Only the goods index is used to estimate grocery prices; those estimates are not locally observed.
Hawaii → Las Vegas
$922/mo lower
Your living costs could be lower in Las Vegas — an estimated difference of $11,066 a year.
- Hawaii
- $3,025/mo
- Las Vegas
- $2,103/mo
Based on 4 of 9 lines. Groceries included as an estimate (Low confidence); unavailable basket items excluded. Left out (no figure on both sides): Heating, Water & sewer, Internet, Cellphone, Car insurance.
Line by line — edit any number
Estimates come from official sources where we have them. Type your real spending into any box and it becomes Your number. Lines without a figure on both sides are left out of the totals.
HUD Fair Market Rent (40th-percentile gross rent, FY2027)
2024 state average consumption × (1 + 0.15 × (people − 2)) × July 2026 rate; household scaling is an assumption
2024 average bill in this state: $212 (reference only; not added). Statewide: Hawaii · 2024 annual average · EIA Electric Sales, Revenue & Average Price, Table 5.A (2024)Average residential monthly bill per customer (consumption × price in that state).
2024 average bill in this state: $139 (reference only; not added). Statewide: Nevada · 2024 annual average · EIA Electric Sales, Revenue & Average Price, Table 5.A (2024)Average residential monthly bill per customer (consumption × price in that state).
Monthly bill
Monthly bill
Monthly bill
2 line(s)
Basket of 8 available staples × 2 people; unavailable items excluded
1000 mi ÷ 25 mpg × 1 vehicle(s)
Your annual premium ÷ 12 × vehicles
Coming soon — data not yet verified: Dining out, Entertainment, Family & pets, Healthcare. These categories appear once official figures are loaded.
Assumptions you can change
Electricity uses each state's EIA 2024 average consumption × the July 2026 rate. Household scaling is an assumption: multiply by (1 + 0.15 × (people − 2)). Driving buckets and 25 mpg are assumptions, not measured averages. Ownership uses 20% down and a 30-year fixed loan. Mortgage rate: Assumption — edit to today's rate; no rate is supplied as verified data. HUD gross rent already includes utilities except phone/cable/internet; adding the separate electricity estimate can double-count included utilities, so edit your actual bills accordingly.
Category by category: Hawaii vs. Las Vegas
| Category | Hawaii | Las Vegas | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | $2,467 | $1,686 | -$781 |
| Utilities | $238 | $119 | -$119 |
| Groceries | $95 | $82 | -$13 |
| Transportation | $226 | $216 | -$10 |
Biggest reasons for the change
- Housing could be about $781 a month lower in Las Vegas.
- Utilities could be about $119 a month lower in Las Vegas.
- Groceries could be about $13 a month lower in Las Vegas.
BEA's housing-rent index is 125.3 here versus 115.5 in Las Vegas (U.S. = 100). This provides broader context, not the rent used in your budget. Statewide: Hawaii · 2024 annual · BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (via FRED) · Metro: Las Vegas · 2024 annual · BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (via FRED)
Data confidence
Verified official figures at exactly this geography.
HUD Fair Market Rent (40th-percentile gross rent, FY2027)
A broader-area figure stands in for this location; check the geography shown because local prices may differ.
2024 state average consumption × (1 + 0.15 × (people − 2)) × July 2026 rate; household scaling is an assumption · Monthly bill · 2 line(s)
U.S. average grocery prices adjusted by BEA goods indexes; not locally observed prices.
Basket of 8 available staples × 2 people; unavailable items excluded
A broader-area figure stands in for this location; check the geography shown because local prices may differ.
1000 mi ÷ 25 mpg × 1 vehicle(s) · Your annual premium ÷ 12 × vehicles
Same shopping cart, different place
One month of staples for 2 people, same package sizes everywhere. Adjust quantities to match how you shop. BLS average prices exclude sales tax; any price you type in is whatever you paid.
| Item (package) | Qty / month | Hawaii | Las Vegas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milk Whole milk, fortified, 1 gallon | 4 | $4.58 Estimated · Statewide: Hawaii · September 2026 · BLS Average Price Data (CPI), U.S. city averageEstimated — U.S. average price adjusted by BEA's goods price index for this location; not a locally observed priceBEA goods index: 111.6 · Statewide: Hawaii · 2024 annual · BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (via FRED)West region average: $4.62 · BLS | $3.95 Estimated · Metro: Las Vegas · September 2026 · BLS Average Price Data (CPI), U.S. city averageEstimated — U.S. average price adjusted by BEA's goods price index for this location; not a locally observed priceBEA goods index: 96.3 · Metro: Las Vegas · 2024 annual · BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (via FRED)West region average: $4.62 · BLS |
| Eggs Grade A large, 1 dozen | 3 | $2.54 Estimated · Statewide: Hawaii · September 2026 · BLS Average Price Data (CPI), U.S. city averageEstimated — U.S. average price adjusted by BEA's goods price index for this location; not a locally observed priceBEA goods index: 111.6 · Statewide: Hawaii · 2024 annual · BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (via FRED) | $2.19 Estimated · Metro: Las Vegas · September 2026 · BLS Average Price Data (CPI), U.S. city averageEstimated — U.S. average price adjusted by BEA's goods price index for this location; not a locally observed priceBEA goods index: 96.3 · Metro: Las Vegas · 2024 annual · BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (via FRED) |
| Bread White pan bread, 1 lb loaf | 4 | $2.04 Estimated · Statewide: Hawaii · September 2026 · BLS Average Price Data (CPI), U.S. city averageEstimated — U.S. average price adjusted by BEA's goods price index for this location; not a locally observed priceBEA goods index: 111.6 · Statewide: Hawaii · 2024 annual · BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (via FRED)West region average: $2.12 · BLS | $1.76 Estimated · Metro: Las Vegas · September 2026 · BLS Average Price Data (CPI), U.S. city averageEstimated — U.S. average price adjusted by BEA's goods price index for this location; not a locally observed priceBEA goods index: 96.3 · Metro: Las Vegas · 2024 annual · BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (via FRED)West region average: $2.12 · BLS |
| Rice White long-grain, uncooked, 5 lb (BLS per-lb price × 5) | 1 | $6.24 Estimated · Statewide: Hawaii · September 2026 · BLS Average Price Data (CPI), U.S. city averageEstimated — U.S. average price adjusted by BEA's goods price index for this location; not a locally observed priceBEA goods index: 111.6 · Statewide: Hawaii · 2024 annual · BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (via FRED) | $5.38 Estimated · Metro: Las Vegas · September 2026 · BLS Average Price Data (CPI), U.S. city averageEstimated — U.S. average price adjusted by BEA's goods price index for this location; not a locally observed priceBEA goods index: 96.3 · Metro: Las Vegas · 2024 annual · BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (via FRED) |
| Chicken breast Boneless chicken breast, 1 lb | 8 | $4.69 Estimated · Statewide: Hawaii · September 2026 · BLS Average Price Data (CPI), U.S. city averageEstimated — U.S. average price adjusted by BEA's goods price index for this location; not a locally observed priceBEA goods index: 111.6 · Statewide: Hawaii · 2024 annual · BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (via FRED)West region average: $4.74 · BLS | $4.05 Estimated · Metro: Las Vegas · September 2026 · BLS Average Price Data (CPI), U.S. city averageEstimated — U.S. average price adjusted by BEA's goods price index for this location; not a locally observed priceBEA goods index: 96.3 · Metro: Las Vegas · 2024 annual · BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (via FRED)West region average: $4.74 · BLS |
| Bananas Bananas, 1 lb | 4 | $0.73 Estimated · Statewide: Hawaii · September 2026 · BLS Average Price Data (CPI), U.S. city averageEstimated — U.S. average price adjusted by BEA's goods price index for this location; not a locally observed priceBEA goods index: 111.6 · Statewide: Hawaii · 2024 annual · BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (via FRED)West region average: $0.73 · BLS | $0.63 Estimated · Metro: Las Vegas · September 2026 · BLS Average Price Data (CPI), U.S. city averageEstimated — U.S. average price adjusted by BEA's goods price index for this location; not a locally observed priceBEA goods index: 96.3 · Metro: Las Vegas · 2024 annual · BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (via FRED)West region average: $0.73 · BLS |
| Apples Red Delicious apples, 1 lb | 4 | Data not yet available — enter your own | Data not yet available — enter your own |
| Tomatoes Field-grown tomatoes, 1 lb | 3 | $2.22 Estimated · Statewide: Hawaii · September 2026 · BLS Average Price Data (CPI), U.S. city averageEstimated — U.S. average price adjusted by BEA's goods price index for this location; not a locally observed priceBEA goods index: 111.6 · Statewide: Hawaii · 2024 annual · BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (via FRED) | $1.92 Estimated · Metro: Las Vegas · September 2026 · BLS Average Price Data (CPI), U.S. city averageEstimated — U.S. average price adjusted by BEA's goods price index for this location; not a locally observed priceBEA goods index: 96.3 · Metro: Las Vegas · 2024 annual · BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (via FRED) |
| Ground coffee 100% ground roast coffee, 12 oz (BLS per-lb price × 0.75) | 1 | $7.81 Estimated · Statewide: Hawaii · September 2026 · BLS Average Price Data (CPI), U.S. city averageEstimated — U.S. average price adjusted by BEA's goods price index for this location; not a locally observed priceBEA goods index: 111.6 · Statewide: Hawaii · 2024 annual · BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (via FRED) | $6.74 Estimated · Metro: Las Vegas · September 2026 · BLS Average Price Data (CPI), U.S. city averageEstimated — U.S. average price adjusted by BEA's goods price index for this location; not a locally observed priceBEA goods index: 96.3 · Metro: Las Vegas · 2024 annual · BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (via FRED) |
Hawaii
—
1 of 9 prices missing
Las Vegas
—
1 of 9 prices missing
Moving break-even
How many months of the estimated monthly difference would it take to cover what the move itself costs? We don't preload prices here — use your real quotes, or a rough number from our cost estimator.
Shown separately — you should get these back, so they're not counted.
Non-recoverable moving cost
$0
Plus $0 in refundable deposits (excluded)
0 months
of an estimated $922/mo lower living costs in Las Vegas to offset the move.
Referral: we connect you with independently licensed movers.
How we keep it fair
- Same item, same package size in every place (for example 1 gallon of whole milk, 1 dozen large eggs).
- Same fuel grade (regular), same housing type and bedroom count, same standard adult evening movie ticket.
- Every figure is labeled with its geography — Statewide, Metro or National. A statewide figure is never shown as a city price.
- AAA regular gasoline prices include taxes. BLS grocery prices exclude sales tax; index-adjusted grocery estimates do too. Hawaii's GET is not modeled.
How the Lower-48 average is calculated
The Lower-48 average is the population-weighted mean of the 48 contiguous states' values for each metric. Alaska, Hawaii and Washington, D.C. are excluded.
Each state's value is weighted by its July 1, 2024 population (U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2024 estimates).
If a state-level metric is missing for any of the 48 states, the average is not shown — we never average a partial set and call it national. RPP indexes use these weights too.
Grocery items use the BLS U.S. city average directly for the Lower-48 comparison, not a weighted state price. Other locations use an explicitly labeled estimate: U.S. average × BEA goods index ÷ 100. Regional BLS figures are references only.
Population weights: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2024), July 1, 2024 estimate.
Sources
Source figures reviewed by the owner on October 18, 2026. Grocery location prices are calculated estimates, not verified local observations. The page remains unindexed pending owner review.
Loaded and verified
- Rent, 1 bedroom: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2027, FY2027 (effective Oct 2026) (updated 2026-10-18). HUD FMR for the county. 40th-percentile gross rent.
- Rent, 2 bedrooms: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2027, FY2027 (effective Oct 2026) (updated 2026-10-18). HUD FMR for the county. 40th-percentile gross rent.
- Rent, 3 bedrooms: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2027, FY2027 (effective Oct 2026) (updated 2026-10-18). HUD FMR for the county. 40th-percentile gross rent.
- Median listing price: Realtor.com Median Listing Price (via FRED), September 2026 (updated 2026-10-18). Median listing price of homes for sale statewide (not a sale price or an assessed value).
- Effective property-tax rate: Tax Foundation, Property Taxes by State 2026 (from Census ACS 2024 5-year), 2024 (ACS 5-year) (updated 2026-10-18). Effective rate on owner-occupied housing: median real-estate taxes paid ÷ median home value, statewide.
- Average residential consumption: EIA Electric Sales, Revenue & Average Price, Table 5.A (2024), 2024 annual average (updated 2026-10-18). Average residential consumption per customer.
- 2024 average residential bill: EIA Electric Sales, Revenue & Average Price, Table 5.A (2024), 2024 annual average (updated 2026-10-18). Average residential monthly bill per customer (consumption × price in that state).
- Electricity price: EIA Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A, July 2026 (monthly) (updated 2026-10-18). Average residential price, all utilities in the state. The most recent month in Electric Power Monthly is preliminary and summer months can differ from the annual average.
- Milk: BLS Average Price Data (CPI), U.S. city average, September 2026 (updated 2026-10-18). Milk, fresh, whole, fortified, per gallon. Series APU0000709112. U.S. city average.
- Eggs: BLS Average Price Data (CPI), U.S. city average, September 2026 (updated 2026-10-18). Eggs, grade A, large, per dozen. Series APU0000708111. U.S. city average.
- Bread: BLS Average Price Data (CPI), U.S. city average, September 2026 (updated 2026-10-18). Bread, white, pan, per lb loaf. Series APU0000702111. U.S. city average.
- Rice: BLS Average Price Data (CPI), U.S. city average, September 2026 (updated 2026-10-18). Rice, white, long grain, uncooked, per lb. Series APU0000701312. U.S. city average. Package conversion: source price × 5.
- Chicken breast: BLS Average Price Data (CPI), U.S. city average, September 2026 (updated 2026-10-18). Chicken breast, boneless, per lb. Series APU0000FF1101. U.S. city average.
- Bananas: BLS Average Price Data (CPI), U.S. city average, September 2026 (updated 2026-10-18). Bananas, per lb. Series APU0000711211. U.S. city average.
- Tomatoes: BLS Average Price Data (CPI), U.S. city average, September 2026 (updated 2026-10-18). Tomatoes, field grown, per lb. Series APU0000712311. U.S. city average.
- Ground coffee: BLS Average Price Data (CPI), U.S. city average, September 2026 (updated 2026-10-18). Coffee, 100% ground roast, all sizes, per lb. Series APU0000717311. U.S. city average. Package conversion: source price × 0.75.
- Rice, per pound: BLS Average Price Data (CPI), U.S. city average, September 2026 (updated 2026-10-18). Rice, white, long grain, uncooked, per lb. Series APU0000701312. U.S. city average.
- Coffee, per pound: BLS Average Price Data (CPI), U.S. city average, September 2026 (updated 2026-10-18). Coffee, 100% ground roast, all sizes, per lb. Series APU0000717311. U.S. city average.
- Overall price level: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (via FRED), 2024 annual (updated 2026-10-18).
- Goods price level: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (via FRED), 2024 annual (updated 2026-10-18).
- Housing-rent price level: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (via FRED), 2024 annual (updated 2026-10-18).
- Other services price level: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (via FRED), 2024 annual (updated 2026-10-18).
- Regular gasoline: AAA State Gas Price Averages, October 17, 2026 (daily) (updated 2026-10-18). National average, regular unleaded.
Not yet loaded — enter your own for now
- Heating (gas/fuel) — planned source: EIA Natural Gas Prices (residential, by state)
- Water & sewer — source to be selected
- Home internet — source to be selected
- Cellphone — source to be selected
- Apples — planned source: BLS Average Price Data
- Car insurance — planned source: NAIC Auto Insurance Database Report
- Parking — source to be selected
- Transit monthly pass — source to be selected
- Coffee-shop coffee — source to be selected
- Fast-food combo — source to be selected
- Casual meal for two — source to be selected
- Movie ticket — source to be selected
- Gym membership — source to be selected
- Family activity — source to be selected
- Infant childcare — planned source: U.S. DOL National Database of Childcare Prices
- Pet care — source to be selected
- Marketplace benchmark premium — planned source: KFF Marketplace Average Benchmark Premiums
Read our editorial standards. Planning to move? See the first 3 months budget and the destination guides.
Methodology FAQ
Where do the numbers come from?
Each figure comes from a named official source — HUD FY2027 rents; Realtor.com median listing prices and BEA 2024 price indexes via FRED; Tax Foundation effective property-tax rates; EIA electricity consumption, bills and rates; AAA regular gasoline prices; and BLS U.S. grocery averages. Groceries are labeled index-adjusted estimates, not local observations. Insurance remains unavailable because of reprint licensing restrictions. The source and period are shown next to every number. Where we don't have a verified figure yet, the tool asks for your own number instead of guessing.
How is the Lower-48 average calculated?
It is the population-weighted mean of the 48 contiguous states, using Census 2024 population estimates. Alaska, Hawaii and D.C. are excluded. If any state is missing a value, we don't show an average for that metric.
Why does it say 'statewide estimate' for my island?
Most official price series are published for states or metro areas, not for individual islands. When island-level data doesn't exist we use the Hawaii statewide figure and label it that way, so you know your real cost on Maui or Kauai may differ. Supplied county rents and Oahu/Maui listing prices use their own figures.
Can I use my own numbers?
Yes. Every line is editable. When you type your actual spending, that line is marked 'Your number' and replaces the estimate. Your inputs stay in your browser; nothing is sent to us.
Does this include taxes or income?
No. It compares living expenses only. It does not model income, state income tax, Hawaii's general excise tax or other sales taxes. A lower cost of living doesn't mean you'll come out ahead if your pay changes too.
How often is the data updated?
Each source has its own schedule — AAA daily (refresh at least monthly), EIA rates and BLS/Realtor.com monthly, HUD/BEA and EIA consumption annually. Every figure shows its period and the date we last updated it.
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