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→Salem
Salem is the Oregon state capital, smaller and quieter than Portland (less than an hour north), with the Willamette River running through downtown and the surrounding Willamette Valley producing some of the best Pinot Noir in the world. The state capitol is topped by a gold-leaf pioneer statue. Cherry blossoms line the riverfront every spring. Affordable and underrated.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$2,843/mo
$1,642/mo
$1,201/mo less than Honolulu (73%)
Median home price
Median home price
$1.1M
$452k
$609k less than Honolulu
State income tax
State income tax
11.0%
8.8%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$4,574/mo
$5,962/mo
Salem has $1,388/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
201 days
115 fewer than Honolulu
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
0 days
2 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
0 days
1 days
days below 20°F per year
Honolulu edges ahead on pleasant days, but both cities have comparable comfort overall.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
55 / 100
69 / 100
14.0 pts ahead of Honolulu
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
51 routes
0 routes
51 fewer direct routes than Honolulu
Metro size
Metro size
989k metro
437k metro
Honolulu has 95.0x more events per month than Salem.
the verdict
2
Honolulu
categories won
5
Salem
categories won
Salem wins on money. Honolulu has the edge on weather.
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