City comparison
Yes. Honolulu's crime index is 80 versus 143 in Anaheim, and its violent crime index is 57 versus 165, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Honolulu is cheaper. Median rent is $1,823 a month versus $2,175 in Anaheim.
Safety is where Honolulu and Anaheim split most clearly. Honolulu scores 63 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,823 in Honolulu and $2,175 in Anaheim.
This is a genuine split. Honolulu wins on cost of living and safety and Anaheim wins on the job market. 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. Honolulu at $1,823 average has pockets that run $1,623 and others at $2,223: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Honolulu and Anaheim are 2,576 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,823 a month in Honolulu to $2,175 a month in Anaheim, up $352 a month (19%).
Median household income goes from $86,504 in Honolulu to $95,227 in Anaheim, up $8,723 (10%).
The crime index goes from 80 in Honolulu to 143 in Anaheim, up 63 points (79%).
The move
Anaheim and Honolulu are 2,576 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,175 a month in Anaheim to $1,823 a month in Honolulu, down $352 a month (16%).
Median household income goes from $95,227 in Anaheim to $86,504 in Honolulu, down $8,723 (9%).
The crime index goes from 143 in Anaheim to 80 in Honolulu, down 63 points (44%).
Honolulu, HI
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Anaheim, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Honolulu and Anaheim? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
16% cheaper
Honolulu rent is 16% cheaper than Anaheim
Honolulu
Winner$1,823/mo
Anaheim
$2,175/mo
Typical rent runs $1,823 a month in Honolulu versus $2,175 in Anaheim, so Honolulu is 16% 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 $4,224, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Honolulu still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Anaheim.
Planning to buy in Honolulu? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
10% higher
Anaheim's median income is 10% higher than Honolulu
Honolulu
$86,504
Anaheim
Winner$95,227
Median household income is $95,227 in Anaheim versus $86,504 in Honolulu, so typical pay runs 10% higher in Anaheim (about $8,723 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
44% lower crime
Honolulu's crime index is 44% lower than Anaheim
Honolulu
Winner80 (100 = avg)
Anaheim
143 (100 = avg)
Honolulu's crime index is 80 versus 143 in Anaheim (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 44% 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. Anaheim can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Honolulu and Anaheim are about even on typical weather.
Honolulu
77°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
Anaheim
76°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
Honolulu averages about 77°F (82°F highs); Anaheim averages about 76°F (83°F highs). Honolulu sits near 77°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Anaheim sits near 76°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
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Honolulu is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 16% cheaper here at about $1,823 a month. Choose Honolulu if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Honolulu is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 44% lower than Anaheim (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.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Anaheim is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 10% higher here ($95,227). Start with Anaheim if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Bottom line
Safety is the widest gap: Honolulu scores 67/100 versus 49/100 in Anaheim. Rent is $1,823/month in Honolulu and $2,175/month in Anaheim, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Anaheim still pays more locally ($95,227 median income vs $86,504), which can offset the lease if your field pays Anaheim rates.
Median income is $95,227 in Anaheim versus $86,504 in Honolulu.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Honolulu; Anaheim only makes sense when you have walked the Anaheim ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $2,175 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Honolulu and Anaheim, plus other cities in HI and CA.
