Hawaii to Missouri Moving Guide
Updated June 24, 2025

Planning a interstate move from Hawaii to Missouri? This moving guide will help you compare living in Hawaii vs Missouri across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high cost of living vs lower housing costs), food & health (like Poke vs St. Louis-style barbecue), real estate & housing (plantation, modern vs craftsman, traditional), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Hawaii), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Poke and Lau Lau, but get your taste buds ready for St. Louis-style barbecue & Smoked Brisket
- Missouri housing costs are 72% less expensive than they are in Hawaii
- Rent in Missouri is 54.48% more affordable than in Hawaii
- Our top recommended Hawaii to Missouri movers is Sunrise Moving and Packing, LLC
Hawaii to Missouri Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Hawaii to Missouri
- High cost of living
- Limited job opportunities
- Isolated island location
- Risk of natural disasters
- Limited space
- Lower housing costs
- Growing job market
- Central U.S. location
- Fewer natural disasters
- Expansive landscapes
- Limited beach access
- Colder winters
- Less cultural diversity
- Fewer local events
- Fewer seafood options
- Beautiful beaches
- Warm year-round climate
- Rich cultural diversity
- Vibrant festivals
- Exotic cuisine
Pros of moving from Hawaii to Missouri
- Say goodbye to the high cost of living and hello to lower housing costs
- Look forward to moving away from limited job opportunities and moving to Missouri with a growing job market
- Swap the isolated island location of Hawaii for a central U.S. location in Missouri
- Get ready for fewer natural disasters in Missouri
Cons of moving from Hawaii to Missouri
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from beautiful beaches in Hawaii to live with limited beach access in Missouri
- You'll lose out on the pro of a warm year-round climate and have to settle with the con of colder winters
- Time to bid farewell to rich cultural diversity and get used to less cultural diversity in Missouri
- Swap vibrant festivals for fewer local events
Hawaii vs. Missouri: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Hawaii | Missouri |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Poke | St. Louis-style barbecue |
Most popular meat dish | Lau Lau | Smoked Brisket |
Most popular street food item | Spam Musubi | Toasted Ravioli |
Most popular vegan food | Taro dishes | Cauliflower Wings |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
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Fitness/Health Conscientiousness | 💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪 | 💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪 |
Abundance of Food Trucks | 🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚 | 🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚 |
Foodie Scene (out of 10) | 🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴 | 🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴 |
Vegan Friendly | 🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱 | 🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱 |
If you're moving from Hawaii to Missouri, you will be trading the iconic Poke of Hawaii for the equally delicious St. Louis-style barbecue of Missouri. And while the locals in Hawaii rave about their flavorful Lau Lau and sumptuous Spam Musubi, Missouri residents know they have tasty Smoked Brisket and Toasted Ravioli to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Taro dishes they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Cauliflower Wings of Missouri. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Hawaii eateries like Helena's Hawaiian Food, Ono Hawaiian Foods, and Roy's Hawaii Kai. After the boxes are unpacked in Missouri, don't wait too long before making your way to Missouri's acclaimed eateries like Pappy's Smokehouse, Blues City Deli, and Bogart's Smokehouse.
When comparing lifestyles, Missouri shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Hawaii. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Missouri, compared to what you are used to in Hawaii. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Missouri.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Hawaii and Missouri
Comparison | Hawaii | Missouri |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Plantation, Modern | Craftsman, Traditional |
Walkability | 👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟 | 👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟 |
Bikeability | 🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲 | 🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲 |
Urban Lifestyle | 🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️ | 🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Ocean view, Solar Panels | Large yard, Proximity to parks |
- The Plantation and Modern architecture that Hawaii is known for will be replaced with the Craftsman and Traditional architecture typical of Missouri.
- Compared to Hawaii's real estate listings that commonly reference ocean views and solar panels, Missouri real estate listings often highlight features like large yards and proximity to parks.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away; Missouri is less walkable than Hawaii.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike; Missouri is more bike-friendly than Hawaii.
- Missouri has less of an urban feel than Hawaii.
- Missouri housing costs are 72% less expensive than they are in Hawaii, with a median home price of $243,216 compared to Hawaii’s $858,106.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Missouri have increased by 49% compared to a 38% increase in Hawaii.
- Rent in Missouri is 54.48% more affordable than in Hawaii.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Hawaii and Missouri
Comparison | Hawaii | Missouri |
---|---|---|
Days of Sunshine per Year | ☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️ | ☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️ |
Avg. Annual Humidity | 💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦 | 💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦 |
Avg. UV Index | 🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️ | 🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️ |
Natural Disasters | Hurricanes, Tsunamis | Tornadoes, Severe Storms |
Air Quality | Good | Variable |
Average Summer High/Low (°F) | 85/70 | 89/67 |
Average Winter High/Low (°F) | 78/63 | 40/20 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 63 | 42 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 0 | 20 |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Hawaii to Missouri. Missouri gets 26% fewer sunshine days than Hawaii.
- Missouri has higher humidity and a lower average UV index compared to Hawaii.
- Say goodbye to the possible hurricanes and tsunamis in Hawaii, but be on the lookout for potential tornadoes and severe storms in Missouri.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Missouri is 4 degrees warmer than in Hawaii.
- The average winter lows are 43 degrees colder than they are in Hawaii.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Missouri. Missouri receives 21 fewer inches of rain compared to Hawaii.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Hawaii and Missouri
Comparison | Hawaii | Missouri |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $92,458 | $64,811 |
Cost of Living Index | 165.7 | 91.8 |
State Income Tax | 1.4% - 11% | 0% - 5.4% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.28% | 0.91% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 4% - 4.5% | 4.225% - 9.988% |
Top 3 Industries | Tourism, Military, Agriculture | Agriculture, Manufacturing, Services |
Affluence | High | Moderate |
Poverty | Moderate | Moderate |
Homelessness | High | Low |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Missouri tend to earn about 30% less than in Hawaii
- The COLI in Missouri is 45% lower than what you are used to living in Hawaii
- The state income tax in MO is 0% - 5.4% compared to 1.4% - 11% in HI
- The affluence in Missouri is moderate compared to high in Hawaii
- The poverty level is moderate in Missouri compared to moderate in Hawaii
- In terms of homelessness, it is high in Hawaii and low in Missouri
Political and Religious Climate in Hawaii vs. Missouri
Comparison | Hawaii | Missouri |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Democratic dominant | Republican dominant |
Local Politics | Liberal policies, environmental focus | Conservative policies, agricultural and industrial focus |
Religion | Mix of Christianity, Buddhism, and traditional Hawaiian religions | Predominantly Christian, with a mix of denominations |
- Hawaii tends to lean Democratic dominant in its political climate.
- Missouri, on the other hand, is often described as Republican dominant.
- Missouri's religious environment can be described as predominantly Christian with a mix of denominations.
- Hawaii's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as a mix of Christianity, Buddhism, and traditional Hawaiian religions.
Education Guide When Moving from Hawaii to Missouri
Comparison | Hawaii | Missouri |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Hawaii at Manoa Hawaii Pacific University Chaminade University of Honolulu | University of Missouri Missouri State University Washington University in St. Louis |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Manoa Elementary (Honolulu) Noelani Elementary (Honolulu) Maemae Elementary School (Honolulu) | Conway Elementary (Ladue) Mason Ridge Elementary (Town and Country) John Weldon Elementary (Dardenne Prairie) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Iolani School (Honolulu) Kamehameha Schools Kapalama Campus (Honolulu) Punahou School (Honolulu) | Ladue Middle School (Ladue) Parkway West Middle School (Chesterfield) Crestview Middle School (Ellisville) |
Top 3 High Schools | President Theodore Roosevelt High School (Honolulu) Henry J. Kaiser High School (Honolulu) Moanalua High School (Honolulu) | Clayton High School (Clayton) Ladue Horton Watkins High School (Ladue) Marquette High School (Chesterfield) |
Top 3 Private High Schools | Iolani School (Honolulu) Punahou School (Honolulu) Kamehameha Schools Kapalama Campus (Honolulu) | St. Louis Priory School (Creve Coeur) John Burroughs School (Ladue) Mary Institute and Saint Louis Country Day School (St. Louis) |
Top 3 Private K-12 Schools | Punahou School (Honolulu) Iolani School (Honolulu) Kamehameha Schools Kapalama Campus (Honolulu) | Thomas Jefferson School (St. Louis) The Barstow School (Kansas City) John Burroughs School (Ladue) |
Top 3 School Districts | Hawaii Department of Education (statewide) | Ladue School District Clayton School District Parkway School District |
Top Hawaii to Missouri Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Hawaii to Missouri movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Sunrise Moving and Packing, LLC
Best moving company overall for Hawaii to Missouri