City comparison
No. Honolulu's crime index is 80 versus 150 in Jacksonville, and its violent crime index is 57 versus 155, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Jacksonville is cheaper. Median rent is $1,465 a month versus $1,823 in Honolulu.
Safety is where Jacksonville and Honolulu split most clearly. Honolulu scores 70 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,465 in Jacksonville and $1,823 in Honolulu.
Honolulu is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Jacksonville 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. Jacksonville at $1,465 average has pockets that run $1,265 and others at $1,865: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Jacksonville and Honolulu are 4,695 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,465 a month in Jacksonville to $1,823 a month in Honolulu, up $358 a month (24%).
Median household income goes from $69,872 in Jacksonville to $86,504 in Honolulu, up $16,632 (24%).
The crime index goes from 150 in Jacksonville to 80 in Honolulu, down 70 points (47%).
The move
Honolulu and Jacksonville are 4,695 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,823 a month in Honolulu to $1,465 a month in Jacksonville, down $358 a month (20%).
Median household income goes from $86,504 in Honolulu to $69,872 in Jacksonville, down $16,632 (19%).
The crime index goes from 80 in Honolulu to 150 in Jacksonville, up 70 points (88%).
Jacksonville, FL
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 Jacksonville and Honolulu? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
20% cheaper
Jacksonville rent is 20% cheaper than Honolulu
Jacksonville
Winner$1,465/mo
Honolulu
$1,823/mo
Typical rent runs $1,465 a month in Jacksonville versus $1,823 in Honolulu, so Jacksonville is 20% 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 $4,296, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Jacksonville 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
24% higher
Honolulu's median income is 24% higher than Jacksonville
Jacksonville
$69,872
Honolulu
Winner$86,504
Median household income is $86,504 in Honolulu versus $69,872 in Jacksonville, so typical pay runs 24% higher in Honolulu (about $16,632 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. Jacksonville can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
47% lower crime
Honolulu's crime index is 47% lower than Jacksonville
Jacksonville
150 (100 = avg)
Honolulu
Winner80 (100 = avg)
Honolulu's crime index is 80 versus 150 in Jacksonville (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. Jacksonville can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
2% more comfortable
Honolulu weather is 2% more comfortable than Jacksonville
Jacksonville
73°F avg · 80°F highs · comfort 98/100
Honolulu
Winner77°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
Jacksonville averages about 73°F (80°F highs); Honolulu averages about 77°F (82°F highs). Jacksonville sits near 73°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. Honolulu scores 2% 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 Jacksonville if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Jacksonville
Jacksonville is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 20% cheaper here at about $1,465 a month. Choose Jacksonville 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 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 24% 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 Jacksonville (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
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Honolulu leads on safety (67/100 vs 48/100 in Jacksonville). Typical rent is $1,823 in Honolulu and $1,465 in Jacksonville; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Honolulu still pays more locally ($86,504 median income vs $69,872), which can offset the lease if your field pays Honolulu rates.
Median income is $86,504 in Honolulu versus $69,872 in Jacksonville.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Honolulu; Jacksonville only makes sense when you have walked the Jacksonville ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,465 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Jacksonville and Honolulu, plus other cities in FL and HI.
