California vs Hawaii: taxes, cost of living, laws

California

Moderate tax burden · COL index 142

Wins 6 categories

Hawaii

Moderate tax burden · COL index 196

Wins 10 categories

California's top income tax rate is 13.3% vs Hawaii's 11%. Cost of living in Hawaii (index 196) runs 38% higher than California (index 142). Property taxes are meaningfully different: California averages 0.71% annually vs Hawaii's 0.27%.

California

Hawaii

Taxes

13.3%

Income Tax (top rate)

11%

0.71%/yr

Property Tax Rate

0.27%/yr

8.82%

Sales Tax (avg)

4.44%

Yes

Social Security Tax

Yes

Estate Tax

As income

Capital Gains Tax

7.25%

Housing & Cost of Living

142

COL Index (100=avg)

196

$790K

Median Home Price

$840K

$2,300/mo

Median Rent (2BR/mo)

$2,500/mo

$2K/yr

Home Insurance (avg/yr)

$500/yr

Crime & Safety

499

Violent Crime / 100K

281

2,027

Property Crime / 100K

2,480

155

Sex Offenders / 100K

209

475

Homeless / 100K

805

Healthcare

#13 of 50

Healthcare Quality Rank

#11 of 50

79.2 yrs

Life Expectancy

80.7 yrs

6.8%

Uninsured Rate

4.8%

Yes

Medicaid Expansion

Yes

Education

#20 of 50

K-12 Quality Rank

#25 of 50

School Choice / Vouchers

Childcare

$2,200/mo

Avg Infant Care / mo

$1,850/mo

Utilities & Daily Costs

$175/mo

Avg Energy Bill / mo

$250/mo

$620/mo

Avg Groceries / mo

$900/mo

#49 of 50

Road Quality Rank

#45 of 50

Social Policy

Gun Laws Grade

D+20.0

2024 Presidential Margin

D+26.0

Category wins

California

Hawaii

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