Is Honolulu cheaper than Durham?

No. Durham is cheaper: typical rent is $1,711 a month versus $2,642 in Honolulu — 35% lower. Median household income is $82,772 in Honolulu compared with $74,710 in Durham, so Honolulu has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Honolulu or Durham?

Honolulu is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 86 versus 97 in Durham — 11% 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, Honolulu or Durham?

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

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City comparison

Honolulu, HI vs Durham, NC

Honolulu, HI versus Durham, NC 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 $2,642 a month in Honolulu and $1,711 in Durham, and median household income lands at $82,772 versus $74,710. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Honolulu takes job market, safety, and weather, while Durham takes affordability. The widest gap is rent, where Durham leads by 35% — 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 Honolulu can feel further apart than Honolulu and Durham do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Honolulu and Durham reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Honolulu report Full Durham report

Honolulu, HI

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

Durham, NC

Rent: $1,711/mo
Median income: $74,710
Crime index: 97
Schools: A-
Weather: 79°F

Rent

35% cheaper

Durham rent is 35% cheaper than Honolulu

Honolulu

$2,642/mo

Durham

Winner

$1,711/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,711 a month in Durham versus $2,642 in Honolulu, so Durham is 35% cheaper. That's roughly $931/month back in your pocket — $11,172/year. Over five years that's $55,860 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, Durham is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.

Median income

11% higher

Honolulu's median income is 11% higher than Durham

Honolulu

Winner

$82,772

Durham

$74,710

What this means for your life

Median household income is $82,772 in Honolulu versus $74,710 in Durham, so typical pay runs 11% higher in Honolulu — about $8,062 more household income a year. Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Honolulu is the stronger labor market on paper. Durham can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.

Crime index

11% lower crime

Honolulu's crime index is 11% lower than Durham

Honolulu

Winner

86 (100 = avg)

Durham

97 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Honolulu's crime index is 86 versus 97 in Durham (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 11% lower in Honolulu. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Honolulu, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Durham. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.

School scores

Neck and neck

Honolulu and Durham are about even on school scores.

Honolulu

A- · 84/100

Durham

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Honolulu, A- in Durham). 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

15% more comfortable

Honolulu weather is 15% more comfortable than Durham

Honolulu

Winner

74°F typical

Durham

79°F typical

What this means for your life

Honolulu scores 15% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 74°F in Honolulu and 79°F in Durham. Honolulu reads as warm weather most of the year; Durham reads as warm weather most of the year. The comfort edge is real but not a personality transplant. If you already know you want Durham'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 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 11% 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 11% lower than Durham (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 →

Fit check

Who should choose Durham

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

Durham is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 35% cheaper here at about $1,711 a month. Choose Durham if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.

Open the Durham report →

Bottom line

Honolulu vs Durham, called

If cost of living is your priority, Durham is the clear choice.

If weather matters more to you, Honolulu pulls ahead.

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

Common questions

Honolulu vs Durham FAQ

Is Honolulu cheaper than Durham?: No. Durham is cheaper: typical rent is $1,711 a month versus $2,642 in Honolulu — 35% lower. Median household income is $82,772 in Honolulu compared with $74,710 in Durham, so Honolulu has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Honolulu or Durham?: Honolulu is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 86 versus 97 in Durham — 11% 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, Honolulu or Durham?: School composites are close: A- in Honolulu and A- in Durham. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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