City comparison
Yes. Honolulu's crime index is 80 versus 151 in Reno, and its violent crime index is 57 versus 156, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Reno is cheaper. Median rent is $1,556 a month versus $1,823 in Honolulu.
Safety is where Honolulu and Reno split most clearly. Honolulu scores 71 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 $1,556 in Reno.
Honolulu is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Reno makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Honolulu is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. Honolulu has rougher pockets and Reno has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Honolulu and Reno are 2,566 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,823 a month in Honolulu to $1,556 a month in Reno, down $267 a month (15%).
Median household income goes from $86,504 in Honolulu to $80,760 in Reno, down $5,744 (7%).
The crime index goes from 80 in Honolulu to 151 in Reno, up 71 points (89%).
The move
Reno and Honolulu are 2,566 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,556 a month in Reno to $1,823 a month in Honolulu, up $267 a month (17%).
Median household income goes from $80,760 in Reno to $86,504 in Honolulu, up $5,744 (7%).
The crime index goes from 151 in Reno to 80 in Honolulu, down 71 points (47%).
Honolulu, HI
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Reno, NV
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Honolulu and Reno? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
15% cheaper
Reno rent is 15% cheaper than Honolulu
Honolulu
$1,823/mo
Reno
Winner$1,556/mo
Typical rent runs $1,556 a month in Reno versus $1,823 in Honolulu, so Reno is 15% 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 $3,204, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Reno 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
7% higher
Honolulu's median income is 7% higher than Reno
Honolulu
Winner$86,504
Reno
$80,760
Median household income is $86,504 in Honolulu versus $80,760 in Reno, so typical pay runs 7% higher in Honolulu (about $5,744 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
47% lower crime
Honolulu's crime index is 47% lower than Reno
Honolulu
Winner80 (100 = avg)
Reno
151 (100 = avg)
Honolulu's crime index is 80 versus 151 in Reno (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 47% 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. Reno can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
9% more comfortable
Honolulu weather is 9% more comfortable than Reno
Honolulu
Winner77°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
Reno
62°F avg · 71°F highs · comfort 92/100
Honolulu averages about 77°F (82°F highs); Reno averages about 62°F (71°F highs). Honolulu sits near 77°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Reno averages around 62°F. Honolulu scores 9% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Reno if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 7% higher ($86,504), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 77°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Honolulu is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 47% lower than Reno (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
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Reno
Reno is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 15% cheaper here at about $1,556 a month. Choose Reno if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Reno carries the heavier crime signal on this page (47/100 safety vs 67/100 in Honolulu). That 20-point spread matters more than the $267 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Safety still diverges (67/100 in Honolulu vs 47/100 in Reno), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Typical rent stays $1,556 in Reno and $1,823 in Honolulu.
Honolulu clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Reno deserves a serious look only when you already know the Reno block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Honolulu and Reno, plus other cities in HI and NV.
