Moving to Canada from Hawaii

moving to

What to Expect

Considering a move from Hawaii to Canada? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Hawaii to Canada, you would find that Canada is 29.5% cheaper than Hawaii. A $75,000 salary in Hawaii would need to be roughly CA$76,607 in Canada to maintain the same lifestyle. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Ottawa averages 52°F vs 84°F in Honolulu, making it significantly cooler.

How Far Will Your Money Go?

A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Hawaii and Canada.

What does your salary buy?

$75,000 CA$76,607

To maintain the same standard of living in Canada

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 34.9% less

Groceries

pay 46.6% less

Transportation

pay 16.2% less

Housing

pay 34.5% less

Childcare

pay 43.7% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 21.6% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 USD = 1.42 CAD (June 2026)

Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

What the data shows about people moving from Hawaii to Canada.

Moved in 2023
10,640 ↑ 2% vs 2022

people moved from United States to Canada · OECD (latest data available)

Who's moving to Canada?

Top countries of origin for Canada's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Canada compared to Hawaii.

How's the healthcare?

Adult obesity rate Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), 2022

share of adults with obesity

HI
25.6%
CA
29.4%

Hawaii performs better than Canada across all health & wellbeing metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Internet access US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), 2023

share of households with internet

HI
91.2%
CA
93.0%

Canada performs significantly better than Hawaii across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

HI
2.2%
CA
5.4%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024

a broad measure of economic output per person

HI
$64,124
CA
$55,800

Hawaii generally does better on employment & economy, though Canada leads in poverty rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy OECD Regional Demography, 2022

average years of life at birth

HI
80.7 yrs
CA
83.8 yrs

Canada performs significantly better than Hawaii across all family life metrics.

Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey)

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Honolulu Rain: 17.1 in/yr (434 mm)
84° / 71°F

Avg. annual high / low

Ottawa Rain: 37.1 in/yr (943 mm)
52° / 34°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Honolulu Ottawa
Jan–Mar 80°/67°F (27°/19°C) 27°/10°F (-3°/-12°C)
Apr–Jun 85°/71°F (29°/22°C) 64°/45°F (18°/7°C)
Jul–Sep 89°/74°F (31°/24°C) 75°/55°F (24°/13°C)
Oct–Dec 84°/71°F (29°/22°C) 41°/25°F (5°/-4°C)
View all months
Month Honolulu Ottawa
Jan 80°/66°F (26.7°/19.1°C) 21°/4°F (-6.1°/-15.3°C)
Feb 80°/66°F (26.8°/18.9°C) 25°/8°F (-4.1°/-13.3°C)
Mar 81°/68°F (27.3°/19.8°C) 36°/19°F (2.2°/-7.1°C)
Apr 83°/69°F (28.2°/20.8°C) 51°/33°F (10.8°/0.6°C)
May 85°/71°F (29.2°/21.6°C) 66°/46°F (19.1°/7.7°C)
Jun 87°/73°F (30.6°/23.0°C) 75°/55°F (23.8°/12.7°C)
Jul 88°/74°F (31.1°/23.6°C) 80°/60°F (26.5°/15.4°C)
Aug 89°/75°F (31.5°/23.9°C) 77°/57°F (24.9°/14.1°C)
Sep 89°/74°F (31.4°/23.6°C) 67°/48°F (19.5°/9.1°C)
Oct 87°/73°F (30.4°/23.0°C) 54°/37°F (12.5°/3.0°C)
Nov 84°/71°F (28.8°/21.9°C) 41°/27°F (4.8°/-2.8°C)
Dec 81°/68°F (27.3°/20.2°C) 27°/12°F (-3.0°/-11.1°C)

Data: National Weather Service National Weather Service, Meteorological Service of Canada Meteorological Service of Canada

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States and Canada. To live, work, or study long-term in Canada, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Canada's immigration authority.

United States passport

United States passport holder visiting Canada

Visa Free
United States passport holders can enter Canada without a visa.
Canada passport

Canada passport holder visiting United States

Visa Free
Canada passport holders can enter United States without a visa.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it cheaper to live in Canada than Hawaii?

On average Canada is about 28% less expensive than Hawaii, with major cities narrowing the gap.

How much money do I need to move to Canada?

Budget about CA$19,152 for 3 months in Canada (based on a $75,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Canada?

From major Canada cities the network usually holds up. Visa rules, your employer's stance on overseas employees, and tax residency in Hawaii and Canada are what actually decide it long-term.

How is healthcare in Canada compared to Hawaii?

Hawaii performs better than Canada across all health & wellbeing metrics.

What's the weather like in Canada compared to Hawaii?

The average high temperature in Ottawa is 52°F, compared to 84°F in Honolulu. Ottawa receives around 37.1 in of rainfall per year, while Honolulu gets 17.1 in.

What language do they speak in Canada?

The official languages in Canada are English and French. In Hawaii, the official language is English.

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At a Glance

CA
Population 1,360,301 38,232,593
Currency United States Dollar ($) Canadian Dollar (CA$)
Languages English English, French
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +1 +1
Time zones 11 6
Emergency number 911 911