City comparison
No. Honolulu's crime index is 80 versus 162 in Austin, and its violent crime index is 57 versus 130, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Austin is cheaper. Median rent is $1,729 a month versus $1,823 in Honolulu.
Safety is where Austin and Honolulu split most clearly. Honolulu scores 82 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,729 in Austin and $1,823 in Honolulu.
This is a genuine split. Austin wins on cost of living and the job market and Honolulu wins on safety. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
The crime gap is citywide. Honolulu has rougher pockets and Austin has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Austin and Honolulu are 3,749 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,729 a month in Austin to $1,823 a month in Honolulu, up $94 a month (5%).
Median household income goes from $93,658 in Austin to $86,504 in Honolulu, down $7,154 (8%).
The crime index goes from 162 in Austin to 80 in Honolulu, down 82 points (51%).
The move
Honolulu and Austin are 3,749 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,823 a month in Honolulu to $1,729 a month in Austin, down $94 a month (5%).
Median household income goes from $86,504 in Honolulu to $93,658 in Austin, up $7,154 (8%).
The crime index goes from 80 in Honolulu to 162 in Austin, up 82 points (102%).
Austin, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Honolulu, HI
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Austin and Honolulu? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
5% cheaper
Austin rent is 5% cheaper than Honolulu
Austin
Winner$1,729/mo
Honolulu
$1,823/mo
Typical rent runs $1,729 a month in Austin versus $1,823 in Honolulu, so Austin is 5% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $94, or $1,128 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in Austin? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
8% higher
Austin's median income is 8% higher than Honolulu
Austin
Winner$93,658
Honolulu
$86,504
Median household income is $93,658 in Austin versus $86,504 in Honolulu, so typical pay runs 8% higher in Austin (about $7,154 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
51% lower crime
Honolulu's crime index is 51% lower than Austin
Austin
162 (100 = avg)
Honolulu
Winner80 (100 = avg)
Honolulu's crime index is 80 versus 162 in Austin (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 51% 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. Austin can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Austin and Honolulu are about even on typical weather.
Austin
68°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Honolulu
77°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
Austin averages about 68°F (76°F highs); Honolulu averages about 77°F (82°F highs). Austin sits near 68°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Honolulu sits near 77°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. On daily comfort these two are close enough that the better fit is whichever season you already know you can live with.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Austin is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 5% cheaper here at about $1,729 a month. Choose Austin if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Austin is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 8% higher here ($93,658). Start with Austin if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Honolulu is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 51% lower than Austin (80 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.
Bottom line
Crime and safety tilt toward Honolulu: Honolulu scores 67/100 versus 45/100 in Austin, with typical rent at $1,823 versus $1,729. I would vet the exact ZIP in Austin before trading 22 safety points for housing savings.
With only $94 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Typical rent stays $1,729 in Austin and $1,823 in Honolulu.
If safety drives your move, Honolulu is the stronger match (67/100 safety versus 45/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Austin, treat $1,729/month rent and $93,658 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Austin when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Austin and Honolulu, plus other cities in TX and HI.
