City comparison
No. Honolulu's crime index is 80 versus 303 in Minneapolis, and its violent crime index is 57 versus 314, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Minneapolis is cheaper. Median rent is $1,371 a month versus $1,823 in Honolulu.
Safety is where Minneapolis and Honolulu split most clearly. Honolulu scores 223 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,371 in Minneapolis 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. Minneapolis 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. Minneapolis at $1,371 average has pockets that run $1,171 and others at $1,771: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Minneapolis and Honolulu are 3,962 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,371 a month in Minneapolis to $1,823 a month in Honolulu, up $452 a month (33%).
Median household income goes from $80,846 in Minneapolis to $86,504 in Honolulu, up $5,658 (7%).
The crime index goes from 303 in Minneapolis to 80 in Honolulu, down 223 points (74%).
The move
Honolulu and Minneapolis are 3,962 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,823 a month in Honolulu to $1,371 a month in Minneapolis, down $452 a month (25%).
Median household income goes from $86,504 in Honolulu to $80,846 in Minneapolis, down $5,658 (7%).
The crime index goes from 80 in Honolulu to 303 in Minneapolis, up 223 points (279%).
Minneapolis, MN
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 Minneapolis and Honolulu? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
25% cheaper
Minneapolis rent is 25% cheaper than Honolulu
Minneapolis
Winner$1,371/mo
Honolulu
$1,823/mo
Typical rent runs $1,371 a month in Minneapolis versus $1,823 in Honolulu, so Minneapolis is 25% cheaper. That's roughly $452/month back in your pocket ($5,424/year). Over five years that's $27,120 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, Minneapolis 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
7% higher
Honolulu's median income is 7% higher than Minneapolis
Minneapolis
$80,846
Honolulu
Winner$86,504
Median household income is $86,504 in Honolulu versus $80,846 in Minneapolis, so typical pay runs 7% higher in Honolulu (about $5,658 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
74% lower crime
Honolulu's crime index is 74% lower than Minneapolis
Minneapolis
303 (100 = avg)
Honolulu
Winner80 (100 = avg)
Honolulu's crime index is 80 versus 303 in Minneapolis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 74% 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. Minneapolis can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
39% more comfortable
Honolulu weather is 39% more comfortable than Minneapolis
Minneapolis
55°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 72/100
Honolulu
Winner77°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
Minneapolis averages about 55°F (62°F highs); Honolulu averages about 77°F (82°F highs). Minneapolis averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Honolulu sits near 77°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Honolulu scores 39% 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 Minneapolis 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 Minneapolis
Minneapolis is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 25% cheaper here at about $1,371 a month. Choose Minneapolis 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 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 74% lower than Minneapolis (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
Minneapolis carries the heavier crime signal on this page (26/100 safety vs 67/100 in Honolulu). That 41-point spread matters more than the $452 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Safety still diverges (67/100 in Honolulu vs 26/100 in Minneapolis), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Typical rent stays $1,371 in Minneapolis and $1,823 in Honolulu.
Honolulu clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Minneapolis deserves a serious look only when you already know the Minneapolis block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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