Moving to Iowa from Hawaii
What to Expect
Considering a move from Hawaii to Iowa? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Hawaii to Iowa, you would find that Iowa is 26.1% cheaper than Hawaii. A $75,000 salary in Hawaii would need to be roughly $47,063 in Iowa to maintain the same lifestyle. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Des Moines averages 60°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 Iowa.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → $47,063
To maintain the same standard of living in Iowa
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 29.6% less
Groceries
pay 51.3% less
Transportation
pay 30.8% less
Housing
pay 35.3% less
Childcare
pay 11.0% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 15.8% less
Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Iowa compared to Hawaii.
Is it safe?
incidents per 100,000 people per year
incidents per 100,000 people per year
Hawaii generally does better on safety, though Iowa leads in property crime rate.
How's the healthcare?
share of people without health insurance
share of adults with obesity
share of adults with diabetes
share of adults who smoke
Hawaii generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Iowa leads in diabetes rate.
What about housing?
typical price of a home
typical monthly gross rent
share of homes that are owner-occupied
Iowa performs significantly better than Hawaii across all what about housing? metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
minutes each way to work
Hawaii generally does better on infrastructure, though Iowa leads in average commute.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
typical annual income of a household
share of people below the poverty line
Hawaii performs better than Iowa across all employment & economy metrics.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
share of adults with a 4-year college degree
Hawaii performs better than Iowa across all family life metrics.
Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), FBI Uniform Crime Reporting, OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey)
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Honolulu | Des Moines |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 80°/67°F (27°/19°C) | 39°/21°F (4°/-6°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 85°/71°F (29°/22°C) | 72°/52°F (22°/11°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 89°/74°F (31°/24°C) | 82°/62°F (28°/17°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 84°/71°F (29°/22°C) | 48°/31°F (9°/-1°C) |
View all months
| Month | Honolulu | Des Moines |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 80°/66°F (26.7°/19.1°C) | 31°/14°F (-0.6°/-9.8°C) |
| Feb | 80°/66°F (26.8°/18.9°C) | 36°/19°F (2.3°/-7.3°C) |
| Mar | 81°/68°F (27.3°/19.8°C) | 49°/30°F (9.4°/-1.3°C) |
| Apr | 83°/69°F (28.2°/20.8°C) | 62°/41°F (16.8°/5.1°C) |
| May | 85°/71°F (29.2°/21.6°C) | 72°/52°F (22.4°/11.2°C) |
| Jun | 87°/73°F (30.6°/23.0°C) | 82°/62°F (27.6°/16.7°C) |
| Jul | 88°/74°F (31.1°/23.6°C) | 86°/67°F (29.8°/19.3°C) |
| Aug | 89°/75°F (31.5°/23.9°C) | 84°/65°F (28.8°/18.2°C) |
| Sep | 89°/74°F (31.4°/23.6°C) | 76°/55°F (24.5°/12.9°C) |
| Oct | 87°/73°F (30.4°/23.0°C) | 63°/43°F (17.3°/6.1°C) |
| Nov | 84°/71°F (28.8°/21.9°C) | 48°/31°F (8.8°/-0.8°C) |
| Dec | 81°/68°F (27.3°/20.2°C) | 34°/18°F (1.1°/-7.8°C) |
Data:
National Weather Service
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Iowa than Hawaii?
On average Iowa is about 37% less expensive than Hawaii, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Iowa?
Budget about $11,766 for 3 months in Iowa (based on a $75,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: movers, a truck rental, and a rental deposit.
Is Iowa safe?
Hawaii generally does better on safety, though Iowa leads in property crime rate.
How is healthcare in Iowa compared to Hawaii?
Hawaii generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Iowa leads in diabetes rate.
What's the weather like in Iowa compared to Hawaii?
The average high temperature in Des Moines is 60°F, compared to 84°F in Honolulu. Des Moines receives around 36.0 in of rainfall per year, while Honolulu gets 17.1 in.
