City comparison
No. Honolulu's crime index is 80 versus 142 in Raleigh, and its violent crime index is 57 versus 128, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Raleigh is cheaper. Median rent is $1,572 a month versus $1,823 in Honolulu.
Safety is where Raleigh and Honolulu split most clearly. Honolulu scores 62 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,572 in Raleigh 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. Raleigh 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 Raleigh has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Raleigh and Honolulu are 4,787 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,572 a month in Raleigh to $1,823 a month in Honolulu, up $251 a month (16%).
Median household income goes from $85,395 in Raleigh to $86,504 in Honolulu, up $1,109 (1%).
The crime index goes from 142 in Raleigh to 80 in Honolulu, down 62 points (44%).
The move
Honolulu and Raleigh are 4,787 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,823 a month in Honolulu to $1,572 a month in Raleigh, down $251 a month (14%).
Median household income goes from $86,504 in Honolulu to $85,395 in Raleigh, down $1,109 (1%).
The crime index goes from 80 in Honolulu to 142 in Raleigh, up 62 points (78%).
Raleigh, NC
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 Raleigh and Honolulu? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
14% cheaper
Raleigh rent is 14% cheaper than Honolulu
Raleigh
Winner$1,572/mo
Honolulu
$1,823/mo
Typical rent runs $1,572 a month in Raleigh versus $1,823 in Honolulu, so Raleigh is 14% 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 $3,012, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Raleigh 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
1% higher
Honolulu's median income is 1% higher than Raleigh
Raleigh
$85,395
Honolulu
Winner$86,504
Median household income is $86,504 in Honolulu versus $85,395 in Raleigh, so typical pay runs 1% higher in Honolulu (about $1,109 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 Raleigh
Raleigh
142 (100 = avg)
Honolulu
Winner80 (100 = avg)
Honolulu's crime index is 80 versus 142 in Raleigh (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. Raleigh can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
16% more comfortable
Honolulu weather is 16% more comfortable than Raleigh
Raleigh
60°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 86/100
Honolulu
Winner77°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
Raleigh averages about 60°F (69°F highs); Honolulu averages about 77°F (82°F highs). Raleigh averages around 60°F. Honolulu sits near 77°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Honolulu scores 16% 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 Raleigh 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 Raleigh
Raleigh is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 14% cheaper here at about $1,572 a month. Choose Raleigh 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 1% 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 44% lower than Raleigh (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 49/100 in Raleigh). Typical rent is $1,823 in Honolulu and $1,572 in Raleigh; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Safety still diverges (67/100 in Honolulu vs 49/100 in Raleigh), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Typical rent stays $1,572 in Raleigh and $1,823 in Honolulu.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Honolulu; Raleigh only makes sense when you have walked the Raleigh ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,572 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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