Relocation profile · Federal data
Urban Honolulu, HI
BEA RPP 111.0 ranks #380 of 387 scored metros for higher prices (dearer third).
- 111.0
- Cost index (US=100)
- $2,642
- 2BR rent / mo
- $73,986
- Median salary
- 56.1
- LiveAbility Score
The verdict
As of June 2026, Urban Honolulu ranks #109 of 387 US metros on the LiveAbility Score (56.1/100), with its strongest marks in air quality and job market.
- #109
- of 387 US metros · Above median
- 1,446,146
- metro-area population
- 230
- violent crimes per 100K (state-level)
- 295
- schools in the state (NCES)
Weakest dimension: cost of living (2/100). Weigh every dimension against your own priorities, use the City Finder to re-rank by what matters to you.
According to PlainRelocate's LiveAbility composite (BEA, BLS, HUD, FBI, NCES, EPA, NOAA, and FEMA inputs), Urban Honolulu ranks #109 of 387 scored US metros by LiveAbility Score (highest score = #1). Cost-of-living index 111.0 (100 = national average), median 2-bedroom rent $2,642/mo, median salary $73,986; LiveAbility Score 56.1/100, strongest in air quality and job market.
Signature: BEA RPP 111.0 ranks #380 of 387 scored metros for higher prices (dearer third).
Purchasing power tightens: BEA RPP 111.0 lands in the dearer third of scored metros (cuts at 91.5 / 97.0). Median 2BR rent $2,642/mo.
LiveAbility 56.1/100 puts Urban Honolulu in the top third (#109 of 387).
BLS OEWS total employment in the Urban Honolulu area is 420,760.
Urban Honolulu vs all US metros by LiveAbility Score
Where this metro's LiveAbility Score falls among every scored US metro (composite placement, not a desirability verdict)
56 Top 28% higher than 72% of 387 US metros
Metros banded by LiveAbility Score (0–100)
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US metros. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source PlainRelocate LiveAbility Score · June 2026
Urban Honolulu housing and rent
HUD Fair Market Rents for the Urban Honolulu MSA; housing RPP 135.5 (100 = national average); 2BR $2,642/mo.
Urban Honolulu wages and employment
Urban Honolulu posts 420,760 total employment with median salary $73,986 against a dearer-than-average RPP.
Top Occupations by Employment
| Occupation | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $35,080 |
| Retail Salespersons | $37,400 |
| Registered Nurses | $139,260 |
| General and Operations Managers | $113,940 |
| Office Clerks, General | $41,600 |
Schools & Education
State-level education data for the Urban Honolulu area from NCES.
Childcare Costs
State-average childcare costs for the Urban Honolulu area (DOL data).
Life Score Breakdown
Urban Honolulu's composite Life Score is 34.8/100 (F), computed across 7 of 7 dimensions.
LiveAbility Score
View full rankings →Urban Honolulu ranks #109 out of 387 metros with a LiveAbility Score of 56.1/100 - a composite of 8 of 8 quality-of-life dimensions from federal data. Customize the weights to match your priorities →
Urban Honolulu - dimension scores
Percentile vs all US metros (100 = best in the nation for that dimension)
- Air quality
Air quality
94 /100
- Job market
Job market
90 /100
- Low hazard
Low hazard
89 /100
- Safety
Safety
75 /100
- Climate
Climate
74 /100
- Schools
Schools
72 /100
- Housing 3
Housing
3 /100
- Cost of living 2
Cost of living
2 /100
What this shows Urban Honolulu's strongest dimensions are air quality and job market; its weakest among scored dims is cost of living at 2/100. Default weights: cost 18%, jobs & housing 15% each, safety & schools 12%, air & hazard 10%, climate 8%.
Compare Urban Honolulu to
Metros near Urban Honolulu on cost, LiveAbility, or wages
Nearest out-of-state neighbors to Urban Honolulu on BEA RPP, LiveAbility, or BLS median salary, a different lens than the size-ranked list.
Similar cost of living (BEA RPP)
Similar LiveAbility score
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA June 2026
Urban Honolulu cost figures follow BEA Regional Price Parities and HUD Fair Market Rents; Urban Honolulu wages and LiveAbility inputs follow BLS OEWS plus the federal sources listed in methodology. This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Scores are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation. How this data is sourced.
Verify with BEA → · Verify with BLS → · Verify with HUD → · Verify with NOAA → · Verify with FEMA → · Verify with Census →
Thinking about Urban Honolulu?
Urban Honolulu runs a $73,986 median salary at a 111.0 cost index, ranking #109 of 387 nationally on LiveAbility.
- See exactly what Urban Honolulu's pay and cost figures mean for your own budget. Salary calculator
- Put Urban Honolulu head-to-head against another city on the same dimensions. Compare Urban Honolulu
- Abilene is the closest related metro in this corpus -- see how it stacks up. Abilene profile
- A cheaper cost index and a higher LiveAbility score don't always point the same direction -- here's how to weigh the trade-off. Cost vs quality guide
Cost, salary and score figures are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation.