City comparison
No. Honolulu's crime index is 80 versus 188 in Dallas, and its violent crime index is 57 versus 179, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Dallas is cheaper. Median rent is $1,472 a month versus $1,823 in Honolulu.
Safety is where Dallas and Honolulu split most clearly. Honolulu scores 108 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,472 in Dallas and $1,823 in Honolulu.
This is a genuine split. Dallas wins on cost of living and Honolulu wins on the job market and safety. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Dallas at $1,472 average has pockets that run $1,272 and others at $1,872: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Dallas and Honolulu are 3,789 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,472 a month in Dallas to $1,823 a month in Honolulu, up $351 a month (24%).
Median household income goes from $70,518 in Dallas to $86,504 in Honolulu, up $15,986 (23%).
The crime index goes from 188 in Dallas to 80 in Honolulu, down 108 points (57%).
The move
Honolulu and Dallas are 3,789 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,823 a month in Honolulu to $1,472 a month in Dallas, down $351 a month (19%).
Median household income goes from $86,504 in Honolulu to $70,518 in Dallas, down $15,986 (18%).
The crime index goes from 80 in Honolulu to 188 in Dallas, up 108 points (135%).
Dallas, 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 Dallas and Honolulu? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
19% cheaper
Dallas rent is 19% cheaper than Honolulu
Dallas
Winner$1,472/mo
Honolulu
$1,823/mo
Typical rent runs $1,472 a month in Dallas versus $1,823 in Honolulu, so Dallas is 19% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $4,212, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Dallas still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Honolulu.
Planning to buy in Honolulu? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
23% higher
Honolulu's median income is 23% higher than Dallas
Dallas
$70,518
Honolulu
Winner$86,504
Median household income is $86,504 in Honolulu versus $70,518 in Dallas, so typical pay runs 23% higher in Honolulu (about $15,986 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. Dallas can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
57% lower crime
Honolulu's crime index is 57% lower than Dallas
Dallas
188 (100 = avg)
Honolulu
Winner80 (100 = avg)
Honolulu's crime index is 80 versus 188 in Dallas (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 57% 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. Dallas can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Dallas and Honolulu are about even on typical weather.
Dallas
67°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 100/100
Honolulu
77°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
Dallas averages about 67°F (74°F highs); Honolulu averages about 77°F (82°F highs). Dallas sits near 67°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
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Dallas
Dallas is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 19% cheaper here at about $1,472 a month. Choose Dallas if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Honolulu is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 23% higher here ($86,504). Start with Honolulu if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Honolulu is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 57% lower than Dallas (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
Safety is the widest gap: Honolulu scores 67/100 versus 41/100 in Dallas. Rent is $1,823/month in Honolulu and $1,472/month in Dallas, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Honolulu still pays more locally ($86,504 median income vs $70,518), which can offset the lease if your field pays Honolulu rates.
Median income is $86,504 in Honolulu versus $70,518 in Dallas.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Honolulu; Dallas only makes sense when you have walked the Dallas ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,472 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Dallas and Honolulu, plus other cities in TX and HI.
