Is Colorado Springs cheaper than Honolulu?

Yes. Typical rent in Colorado Springs is $1,735 a month versus $2,642 in Honolulu — 34% cheaper. Median household income is $79,026 in Colorado Springs compared with $82,772 in Honolulu, so Honolulu has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Colorado Springs or Honolulu?

Honolulu is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 86 versus 137 in Colorado Springs — 37% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.

Which city has better schools, Colorado Springs or Honolulu?

School composites are close: A- in Colorado Springs and A- in Honolulu. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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City comparison

Colorado Springs, CO vs Honolulu, HI

Colorado Springs, CO versus Honolulu, HI is a real move, not a trivia matchup. This comparison uses the same 2026 neighborhood report data we publish on each city page — typical rent, median household income, crime indexes, school composites, and typical weather — so you can see which city actually fits how you live, work, and spend. Typical rents sit near $1,735 a month in Colorado Springs and $2,642 in Honolulu, and median household income lands at $79,026 versus $82,772. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Colorado Springs takes affordability, while Honolulu takes job market, safety, and weather. The widest gap is crime index, where Honolulu leads by 37% — the kind of spread you feel in a monthly budget or a nightly walk, not just on a chart. Read the category rows as a filter: if cheaper housing would change your life more than a stronger job market, weight rent first. If you are moving with kids, weight schools and crime. If you picked a city after one good weekend, use the weather and income rows to test whether that weekend survives a full year.

Numbers below are citywide, not a guarantee about the street you will actually live on. Two ZIP codes in Colorado Springs can feel further apart than Colorado Springs and Honolulu do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Colorado Springs and Honolulu reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Colorado Springs report Full Honolulu report

Colorado Springs, CO

Rent: $1,735/mo
Median income: $79,026
Crime index: 137
Schools: A-
Weather: 77°F

Honolulu, HI

Rent: $2,642/mo
Median income: $82,772
Crime index: 86
Schools: A-
Weather: 74°F

Rent

34% cheaper

Colorado Springs rent is 34% cheaper than Honolulu

Colorado Springs

Winner

$1,735/mo

Honolulu

$2,642/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,735 a month in Colorado Springs versus $2,642 in Honolulu, so Colorado Springs is 34% cheaper. That's roughly $907/month back in your pocket — $10,884/year. Over five years that's $54,420 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Honolulu, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Colorado Springs is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.

Median income

5% higher

Honolulu's median income is 5% higher than Colorado Springs

Colorado Springs

$79,026

Honolulu

Winner

$82,772

What this means for your life

Median household income is $82,772 in Honolulu versus $79,026 in Colorado Springs, so typical pay runs 5% higher in Honolulu — about $3,746 more household income a year. The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.

Crime index

37% lower crime

Honolulu's crime index is 37% lower than Colorado Springs

Colorado Springs

137 (100 = avg)

Honolulu

Winner

86 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Honolulu's crime index is 86 versus 137 in Colorado Springs (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 37% lower in Honolulu. That gap is meaningful day-to-day — it affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Honolulu is the easier city. Colorado Springs can still work if you pick the right pocket — just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.

School scores

Neck and neck

Colorado Springs and Honolulu are about even on school scores.

Colorado Springs

A- · 84/100

Honolulu

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Colorado Springs, A- in Honolulu). For families with kids this is a warning if you assumed one city was obviously better — at this range the campus, not the city name, decides it. Tour the zoned elementary you would actually use.

Typical weather

8% more comfortable

Honolulu weather is 8% more comfortable than Colorado Springs

Colorado Springs

77°F typical

Honolulu

Winner

74°F typical

What this means for your life

Honolulu scores 8% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 77°F in Colorado Springs and 74°F in Honolulu. Colorado Springs reads as warm weather most of the year; Honolulu reads as warm weather most of the year. The comfort edge is real but not a personality transplant. If you already know you want Colorado Springs's season, a modest index lead should not talk you out of it. If you are undecided, Honolulu is the city where the forecast fights you less.

Fit check

Who should choose Colorado Springs

People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Colorado Springs

Colorado Springs is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 34% cheaper here at about $1,735 a month. Choose Colorado Springs if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.

Open the Colorado Springs report →

Fit check

Who should choose Honolulu

Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access

It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 5% higher ($82,772), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two — around 74°F. That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.

Honolulu is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 37% lower than Colorado Springs (86 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.

Open the Honolulu report →

Bottom line

Colorado Springs vs Honolulu, called

If safety is your priority, Honolulu is the clear choice.

If cost of living matters more to you, Colorado Springs pulls ahead.

For most movers comparing these two cities, Honolulu offers the better overall package.

Common questions

Colorado Springs vs Honolulu FAQ

Is Colorado Springs cheaper than Honolulu?: Yes. Typical rent in Colorado Springs is $1,735 a month versus $2,642 in Honolulu — 34% cheaper. Median household income is $79,026 in Colorado Springs compared with $82,772 in Honolulu, so Honolulu has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Colorado Springs or Honolulu?: Honolulu is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 86 versus 137 in Colorado Springs — 37% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.
Which city has better schools, Colorado Springs or Honolulu?: School composites are close: A- in Colorado Springs and A- in Honolulu. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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