Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chicago, IL
VS
Urban Honolulu, HI
🏆 Urban Honolulu leads 14 of 23 categories
Chicago
Illinois
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,673
Violent Crime Index
142⚠ High
Population
2,721,914 ✓ Larger
Urban Honolulu
Hawaii
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,772 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
49 ✓ Safer
Population
348,547
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chicago, IL
Pros
Homes cost $501k less ($304,500 vs $805,500)
Rent averages $420/mo less ($1,314 vs $1,734)
More college-educated — 42.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Urban Honolulu
Cons
Violent crime (539.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Urban Honolulu by $11,099/yr
Property crime (3472.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.2% vs 5.1%)
Urban Honolulu, HI
Pros
66% less violent crime than Chicago
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (5.1%)
Milder winters — January highs near 76°F vs 32°F
Violent crime is well below the national average (185.2 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Households earn $11,099 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $805,500
Higher rents — median is $1,734/mo
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Chicago
Key Differences at a Glance
Chicago
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 106.8 (100 = US avg)
Chicago
Median Home Value
$501k less
$304,500 vs $805,500
Urban Honolulu
Median Income
$11,099
$82,772 vs $71,673/yr
Urban Honolulu
Violent Crime
66% lower
185.2 vs 539.8 per 100k
Urban Honolulu
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
5.1% vs 8.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chicago, IL | Urban Honolulu, HI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 106.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $304,500 ✓ Lower | $805,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,314 ✓ Lower | $1,734⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,673 | $82,772 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 5.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.1 min⚠ High | 22.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.6% ✓ Higher | 7.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 151⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 142⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High | 85 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | B+ (108) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% ✓ Higher | 39.2% |
| High School or Higher | 86.6% | 90.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chicago Public Schools Dist 299 | Hawaii Department of Education |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.9°F | 76.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.0°F ✓ Warmer | 79.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.4" | 31.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 2,721,914 ✓ Larger | 348,547 |
| Median Age | 35.3 | 42.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 48.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 13.3% | 21.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chicago's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Urban Honolulu's 106.8 (US average = 100).
Chicago is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Urban Honolulu leads 14 of 23 categories. Chicago wins 9 and Urban Honolulu wins 14. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Chicago to Urban Honolulu or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($304,500 vs $805,500 median home), income ($71,673 vs $82,772), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chicago, IL and Urban Honolulu, HI are about 4,245 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.