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→Washington
Washington DC is power dressed in seersucker. The monuments glow at night, the Smithsonian museums are all free (yes, all of them), and the cherry blossoms in April make even cynical lobbyists pause for a selfie. It's one of the most international cities in America (embassies from everywhere), with food scenes to match. The vibe shifts every four years and the architecture stays magnificent through all of it.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$2,843/mo
$2,352/mo
$491/mo less than Honolulu (21%)
Median home price
Median home price
$1.1M
$626k
$435k less than Honolulu
State income tax
State income tax
11.0%
8.5%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$4,574/mo
$5,273/mo
Washington has $699/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
177 days
139 fewer than Honolulu
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
0 days
4 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
0 days
11 days
days below 20°F per year
Washington drops below 20°F on 11 more days per year than Honolulu.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
55 / 100
87 / 100
32.0 pts ahead of Honolulu
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
51 routes
160 routes
109 more direct routes than Honolulu
Metro size
Metro size
989k metro
6.3M metro
Honolulu has 1.7x fewer events per month than Washington.
the verdict
2
Honolulu
categories won
6
Washington
categories won
Washington wins on money and lifestyle. Honolulu has the edge on weather.
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