Key takeaway: Honolulu is the second most expensive urban area in the country on the C2ER index, 84.8% above the U.S. average (Kiplinger, citing C2ER, 2026). Grocery prices on Oʻahu were up 4.1% from a year earlier in September 2026 (BLS). The neighbor islands cost more than Oʻahu. Numbers checked October 30, 2026.
Almost everything in a Hawaiʻi grocery store arrived by ship or plane. Hawaii News Now, citing an industry source, reported in September 2026 that about 90% of what’s on the shelves is shipped in, and that container shipping costs had risen by about $760, or 7.5%, since January as fuel prices climbed (Hawaii News Now, Sep 2026).
How much more than the mainland
| Measure | Hawaiʻi | Comparison | As of |
|---|---|---|---|
| C2ER cost of living index, Honolulu, all items | 84.8% above U.S. average | #2 of U.S. urban areas | 2026 |
| Eggs, Honolulu (C2ER) | 107% above U.S. average | 2026 | |
| USDA Thrifty Food Plan cost factor | 1.5595 | Same food plan costs about 56% more than in the 48 states | 2024 USDA factor |
| Food at home, Urban Honolulu CPI | +4.1% in a year | All items +5.2%; energy +20.9% | Sep 2026 |
Sources: Kiplinger, citing C2ER; West Hawaii Today; BLS, Urban Honolulu CPI.
Oʻahu vs. the neighbor islands
No public survey prices the same grocery basket on every island. The best official comparison is the cost-of-living index the Defense Department uses to pay service members. It covers more than groceries, but it ranks every island with a mainland average of 100. Oʻahu comes out cheapest, because ships unload in Honolulu first and goods for the other islands take a second trip by barge.
| Island | Military COLA index (mainland = 100) |
|---|---|
| Hawaiʻi Island | 126 |
| Kauaʻi | 126 |
| Maui | 118 |
| Molokaʻi | 118 |
| Oʻahu | 114 |
Index effective Jan 1, 2025, as published in the DBEDT State of Hawaii Data Book, Table 14.28. Lānaʻi is not listed separately.
The Jones Act argument
The Jones Act requires cargo moving between U.S. ports to travel on U.S.-built, U.S.-crewed ships. How much that adds to Hawaiʻi prices is disputed. A 2020 study for the Grassroot Institute, which opposes the law, estimated it costs the state about $1.2 billion a year, or about $1,800 per family (Grassroot Institute study, via Hawaii Free Press). A study for the shipping industry the same month found no significant effect on the cost of living (American Maritime Partnership summary). Both are advocacy-funded, so we show both.
SNAP benefits are falling here
Because food costs more, SNAP pays more in Hawaiʻi than in the 48 states. But Hawaiʻi’s maximum went down again on October 1, 2026, while the mainland maximum went up.
| Household size | Hawaiʻi max, from Oct 1, 2026 | Hawaiʻi max, FY2026 | 48 states, from Oct 1, 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $496 | $506 | $306 |
| 4 | $1,655 | $1,689 | $1,023 |
Source: USDA SNAP FY2027 cost-of-living adjustment memo. KITV reported in 2025 that it was the third straight annual cut for Hawaiʻi (KITV).
Sources
- Kiplinger: most expensive cities in the U.S. (C2ER data)
- BLS: Consumer Price Index, Urban Honolulu, September 2026
- Hawaii News Now: rising fuel costs and grocery prices, Sep 2026
- DBEDT Data Book Table 14.28: military COLA index
- West Hawaii Today: USDA Thrifty Food Plan factor
- USDA: SNAP FY2027 COLA
- KITV: Hawaiʻi SNAP benefits cut again
- Grassroot Institute Jones Act study (via Hawaii Free Press)
- American Maritime Partnership Jones Act study summary