Berkeley CA vs Honolulu HI — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)

Berkeley, CA

California · Population: 120,223

Median HH Income$108,558
Median Home Price$1,451,222
Unemployment6.0%
Bachelor's+75.0%

Honolulu, HI

Hawaii · Population: N/A

Median HH IncomeN/A
Median Home Price$760,355
UnemploymentN/A
Bachelor's+N/A

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population

Berkeley

120,223

Honolulu

N/A

Pop. Density / sq mi

Lower = more space

Berkeley

N/A

Honolulu

N/A

Median Age

Berkeley

32.9

Honolulu

N/A

Foreign Born

Berkeley

21.3%

Honolulu

N/A

White

Berkeley

54.8%

Honolulu

N/A

Black

Berkeley

7.4%

Honolulu

N/A

Asian

Berkeley

20.7%

Honolulu

N/A

Hispanic

Berkeley

12.1%

Honolulu

N/A

Spanish at Home

Berkeley

N/A

Honolulu

N/A

Metric	Berkeley, CA	Honolulu, HI	Better
Population	120,223	N/A	-
Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space	N/A	N/A	-
Median Age	32.9	N/A	-
Foreign Born	21.3%	N/A	-
White	54.8%	N/A	-
Black	7.4%	N/A	-
Asian	20.7%	N/A	-
Hispanic	12.1%	N/A	-
Spanish at Home	N/A	N/A	-

Economy

Median HH Income

Berkeley

$108,558

Honolulu

N/A

Per Capita Income

Berkeley

$66,936

Honolulu

N/A

Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)

BEA MSA-level

Berkeley

$77,230

Berkeley +

Honolulu

$63,296

Unemployment Rate

Berkeley

6.0%

Honolulu

N/A

Poverty Rate

Berkeley

16.8%

Honolulu

N/A

Bachelor's Degree+

Berkeley

75.0%

Honolulu

N/A

Metric	Berkeley, CA	Honolulu, HI	Better
Median HH Income	$108,558	N/A	-
Per Capita Income	$66,936	N/A	-
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level	$77,230	$63,296	Berkeley +
Unemployment Rate	6.0%	N/A	-
Poverty Rate	16.8%	N/A	-
Bachelor's Degree+	75.0%	N/A	-

Housing

Median Home Value

Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS

Berkeley

$1,451,222

Honolulu

$760,355

Honolulu +

Homeownership Rate

Berkeley

43.3%

Honolulu

N/A

Metric	Berkeley, CA	Honolulu, HI	Better
Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS	$1,451,222	$760,355	Honolulu +
Homeownership Rate	43.3%	N/A	-

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

Berkeley

503

Honolulu

276

Honolulu +

Property Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

Berkeley

2388

Berkeley +

Honolulu

2592

Metric	Berkeley, CA	Honolulu, HI	Better
Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	503	276	Honolulu +
Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	2388	2592	Berkeley +

Health

Obesity Rate

CDC PLACES

Berkeley

22.2%

Honolulu

N/A

Diabetes Rate

CDC PLACES

Berkeley

7.4%

Honolulu

N/A

Poor Mental Health

CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month

Berkeley

18.1%

Honolulu

N/A

No Health Insurance

CDC PLACES

Berkeley

6.1%

Honolulu

N/A

Binge Drinking

CDC PLACES

Berkeley

18.1%

Honolulu

N/A

Current Smokers

CDC PLACES

Berkeley

8.0%

Honolulu

N/A

Metric	Berkeley, CA	Honolulu, HI	Better
Obesity RateCDC PLACES	22.2%	N/A	-
Diabetes RateCDC PLACES	7.4%	N/A	-
Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month	18.1%	N/A	-
No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES	6.1%	N/A	-
Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES	18.1%	N/A	-
Current SmokersCDC PLACES	8.0%	N/A	-

Climate

Avg Annual Temp

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

Berkeley

58.1°F

Berkeley +

Honolulu

77.7°F

Annual Precipitation

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

Berkeley

26.7 in

Honolulu

17.1 in

Honolulu +

Metric	Berkeley, CA	Honolulu, HI	Better
Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal	58.1°F	77.7°F	Berkeley +
Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal	26.7 in	17.1 in	Honolulu +

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg

EPA AQS (state-level est.)

Berkeley

7.9 µg/m³

Honolulu

3.3 µg/m³

Honolulu +

Good Air Days

AQI ≤ 50

Berkeley

75.0%

Honolulu

75.0%

Tie

Metric	Berkeley, CA	Honolulu, HI	Better
PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.)	7.9 µg/m³	3.3 µg/m³	Honolulu +
Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50	75.0%	75.0%	Tie

Commute

Mean Commute Time

Census ACS

Berkeley

32.2 min

Honolulu

N/A

Metric	Berkeley, CA	Honolulu, HI	Better
Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS	32.2 min	N/A	-

Which City is Right for You?

Honolulu offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $760,355. On public safety, Honolulu is safer with a violent crime rate of 276 per 100,000 residents, compared to 503 in Berkeley. Honolulu has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 3.3 µg/m³).

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About Berkeley & Honolulu

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