01 · the cities
Honolulu
Honolulu is Waikiki's high-rises pressed against turquoise water, Diamond Head crater glowing pink at dawn, and plate lunches that mix Hawaiian, Japanese, Filipino, Korean, and Portuguese into one perfect styrofoam container. Surf the south shore in summer, the north in winter. The North Shore is a 45-minute drive into a totally different world. Aloha here is a way of moving through the day.
full dispatch→Columbia
Columbia is the South Carolina capital, USC Gamecock country, and home to one of the largest urban rivers (the Congaree) flowing right past downtown. The Saluda River outside town is a tubing destination locals swear by, and Congaree National Park's old-growth cypress is a 30-minute drive. The state museum is a sleeper good time. Slower-paced than Charleston, less touristy.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$2,843/mo
$1,551/mo
$1,292/mo less than Honolulu (83%)
Median home price
Median home price
$1.1M
$255k
$806k less than Honolulu
State income tax
State income tax
11.0%
6.5%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$4,574/mo
$6,241/mo
Columbia has $1,667/mo more gross after rent at $100k
Gross left after rent reflects state income tax but not federal, based on $100k salary. Enter your salary to find your ideal city.
03 · the weather
Pleasant days/yr
Pleasant days/yr
316 days
189 days
127 fewer than Honolulu
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
0 days
27 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
0 days
2 days
days below 20°F per year
Columbia has 27 more days above 95°F each year than Honolulu.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
55 / 100
55 / 100
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
51 routes
10 routes
41 fewer direct routes than Honolulu
Metro size
Metro size
989k metro
857k metro
Honolulu has 5.0x more events per month than Columbia.
the verdict
3
Honolulu
categories won
4
Columbia
categories won
Columbia wins on money. Honolulu has the edge on weather and lifestyle.
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