City comparison
Yes. Honolulu's crime index is 80 versus 166 in St Paul, and its violent crime index is 57 versus 160, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
St Paul is cheaper. Median rent is $1,281 a month versus $1,823 in Honolulu.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Honolulu and St Paul. Honolulu averages 77°F while St Paul averages 50°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,823 versus $1,281.
Honolulu is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. St Paul 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 rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. St Paul at $1,281 average has pockets that run $1,081 and others at $1,681: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Honolulu and St Paul are 3,970 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,823 a month in Honolulu to $1,281 a month in St Paul, down $542 a month (30%).
Median household income goes from $86,504 in Honolulu to $73,394 in St Paul, down $13,110 (15%).
The crime index goes from 80 in Honolulu to 166 in St Paul, up 86 points (108%).
The move
St Paul and Honolulu are 3,970 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,281 a month in St Paul to $1,823 a month in Honolulu, up $542 a month (42%).
Median household income goes from $73,394 in St Paul to $86,504 in Honolulu, up $13,110 (18%).
The crime index goes from 166 in St Paul to 80 in Honolulu, down 86 points (52%).
Honolulu, HI
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
St Paul, MN
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Honolulu and St Paul? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
30% cheaper
St Paul rent is 30% cheaper than Honolulu
Honolulu
$1,823/mo
St Paul
Winner$1,281/mo
Typical rent runs $1,281 a month in St Paul versus $1,823 in Honolulu, so St Paul is 30% cheaper. That's roughly $542/month back in your pocket ($6,504/year). Over five years that's $32,520 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Honolulu, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, St Paul is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Honolulu? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
18% higher
Honolulu's median income is 18% higher than St Paul
Honolulu
Winner$86,504
St Paul
$73,394
Median household income is $86,504 in Honolulu versus $73,394 in St Paul, so typical pay runs 18% higher in Honolulu (about $13,110 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. St Paul can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
52% lower crime
Honolulu's crime index is 52% lower than St Paul
Honolulu
Winner80 (100 = avg)
St Paul
166 (100 = avg)
Honolulu's crime index is 80 versus 166 in St Paul (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 52% 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. St Paul can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
72% more comfortable
Honolulu weather is 72% more comfortable than St Paul
Honolulu
Winner77°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
St Paul
50°F avg · 57°F highs · comfort 58/100
Honolulu averages about 77°F (82°F highs); St Paul averages about 50°F (57°F highs). Honolulu sits near 77°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. St Paul averages around 50°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Honolulu scores 72% 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 St Paul 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 18% 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 52% lower than St Paul (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 St Paul
St Paul is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 30% cheaper here at about $1,281 a month. Choose St Paul if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Honolulu leads on safety (67/100 vs 45/100 in St Paul). Typical rent is $1,823 in Honolulu and $1,281 in St Paul; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Safety still diverges (67/100 in Honolulu vs 45/100 in St Paul), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Typical rent stays $1,281 in St Paul and $1,823 in Honolulu.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Honolulu; St Paul only makes sense when you have walked the St Paul ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,281 rent.
Common questions
Ready to move to Honolulu?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Honolulu when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Honolulu and St Paul, plus other cities in HI and MN.
