Hawaii to Rhode Island Moving Guide
Updated June 10, 2025

Planning a interstate move from Hawaii to Rhode Island? This moving guide will help you compare living in Hawaii vs Rhode Island across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like limited job options vs more job opportunities), food & health (like Poke vs Clam Cakes), real estate & housing (plantation, modern vs colonial, cottage), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Hawaii), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Poke and Spam Musubi, but get your taste buds ready for Clam Cakes & Grilled Pizza
- Rhode Island housing costs are 47% less expensive than they are in Hawaii
- Rent in Rhode Island is 29.02% more affordable than in Hawaii
- Our top recommended Hawaii to Rhode Island movers is Two Men and a Truck
Hawaii to Rhode Island Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Hawaii to Rhode Island
- Limited job options
- High cost of living
- Island isolation
- Severe weather risks
- Limited public transport
- More job opportunities
- Lower cost of living
- Closer to mainland
- Milder climate
- Better transit system
- Cold winters
- Less cultural variety
- Seasonal changes
- Common species
- Indoor focus in winter
- Tropical beaches
- Diverse culture
- Year-round warmth
- Unique wildlife
- Outdoor lifestyle
Pros of moving from Hawaii to Rhode Island
- Say goodbye to limited job options and hello to more job opportunities
- Look forward to moving away from the high cost of living and moving to Rhode Island with a lower cost of living
- Swap the island isolation of Hawaii for being closer to the mainland in Rhode Island
- Get ready for a milder climate in Rhode Island
Cons of moving from Hawaii to Rhode Island
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from tropical beaches in Hawaii to live with cold winters in Rhode Island
- You'll lose out on the pro of a diverse culture and have to settle for the con of less cultural variety
- Time to bid farewell to year-round warmth and get used to seasonal changes in Rhode Island
- Swap unique wildlife for common species
Hawaii vs. Rhode Island: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Hawaii | Rhode Island |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Poke | Clam Cakes |
Most popular meat dish | Spam Musubi | Grilled Pizza |
Most popular street food item | Shave Ice | Hot Wieners |
Most popular vegan food | Taro-based dishes | Seitan |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
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Fitness/Health Conscientiousness | 💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪 | 💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪 |
Abundance of Food Trucks | 🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚 | 🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚 |
Foodie Scene | 🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴 | 🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴 |
Vegan Friendly | 🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱 | 🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱 |
If you're moving from Hawaii to Rhode Island, you will be trading the iconic Poke of Hawaii for the equally delicious Clam Cakes of Rhode Island. And while the locals in Hawaii rave about their flavorful Spam Musubi and sumptuous Shave Ice, Rhode Island residents know they have tasty Grilled Pizza and Hot Wieners to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Taro-based dishes they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Seitan of Rhode Island. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Hawaii eateries like Helena's Hawaiian Food, Honolulu Grill, and Matsumoto Shave Ice. After the boxes are unpacked in Rhode Island, don't wait too long before making your way to Rhode Island's acclaimed eateries like Al Forno, Iggy's Doughboys, and Olneyville New York System.
When comparing lifestyles, Rhode Island shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Hawaii. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Rhode Island compared to what you are used to in Hawaii. Also, the overall foodie scene is similarly bustling in Rhode Island.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Hawaii and Rhode Island
Comparison | Hawaii | Rhode Island |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Plantation, Modern | Colonial, Cottage |
Walkability | 👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟 | 👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟 |
Bikeability | 🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲 | 🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲 |
Urban Lifestyle | 🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️ | 🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Ocean view, Lanai | Historic details, Waterfront |
- The Plantation and Modern architecture that Hawaii is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Cottage architecture typical of Rhode Island.
- Compared to Hawaii's real estate listings that commonly reference ocean views and lanais, Rhode Island real estate listings often highlight features like historic details and waterfronts.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes; Rhode Island is more walkable than Hawaii.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike; Rhode Island is more bike-friendly than Hawaii.
- Rhode Island has more of an urban feel than Hawaii.
- Rhode Island housing costs are 47% less expensive than they are in Hawaii, with a median home price of $451,868 compared to Hawaii’s $858,106.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Rhode Island have increased by 55% compared to a 38% increase in Hawaii.
- Rent in Rhode Island is 29.02% more affordable than in Hawaii.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Hawaii and Rhode Island
Comparison | Hawaii | Rhode Island |
---|---|---|
Days of Sunshine per Year | ☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️ | ☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️ |
Avg. Annual Humidity | 💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦 | 💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦 |
Avg. UV Index | 🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️ | 🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️ |
Natural Disasters | Volcanoes, Tsunamis | Blizzards, Hurricanes |
Air Quality | Good | Variable |
Average Summer High/Low (°F) | 85°F / 70°F | 82°F / 63°F |
Average Winter High/Low (°F) | 78°F / 63°F | 40°F / 20°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 63.7" | 47.8" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 0" | 33.8" |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Hawaii to Rhode Island. Rhode Island gets 28% fewer sunshine days than Hawaii.
- Rhode Island has higher humidity and a lower average UV index compared to Hawaii.
- Say goodbye to the possible volcanoes and tsunamis in Hawaii, but be on the lookout for potential blizzards and hurricanes in Rhode Island.
- The average summer high temperature in Rhode Island is 3 degrees colder than in Hawaii.
- The average winter lows in Rhode Island are 43 degrees colder than those in Hawaii.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Rhode Island. Rhode Island receives 15.9 fewer inches of rain compared to Hawaii.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Hawaii and Rhode Island
Comparison | Hawaii | Rhode Island |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $92,458 | $81,854 |
Cost of Living Index | 165.7 | 123.3 |
State Income Tax | 11% | 5.99% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.28% | 1.53% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 4% | 7% |
Top 3 Industries | Tourism, Defense, Agriculture | Healthcare, Education, Manufacturing |
Affluence | High | Moderate |
Poverty | Moderate | Low |
Homelessness | High | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Rhode Island tend to earn about 11% less than in Hawaii
- The COLI in Rhode Island will be 26% lower than what you are used to living in Hawaii
- The state income tax in Rhode Island is 5.99% compared to 11% in Hawaii
- The affluence in Rhode Island is moderate compared to high in Hawaii
- The poverty level is low in Rhode Island compared to moderate in Hawaii
- In terms of homelessness, it is high in Hawaii and moderate in Rhode Island
Political and Religious Climate in Hawaii vs. Rhode Island
Comparison | Hawaii | Rhode Island |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Democratic dominant | Democratic dominant |
Local Politics | Influenced by Asian-Pacific islander heritage | Influenced by historical maritime & industrial economy |
Religion | Christianity, Buddhism | Christianity, prominently Catholic |
- Hawaii tends to lean Democratic dominant in its political climate
- Rhode Island, on the other hand, is often described as Democratic dominant
- Rhode Island's religious environment can be described as Christianity, prominently Catholic
- Hawaii's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as Christianity and Buddhism
Education Guide When Moving from Hawaii to Rhode Island
Comparison | Hawaii | Rhode Island |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Hawaii at Manoa Hawaii Pacific University Brigham Young University-Hawaii | Brown University University of Rhode Island Rhode Island School of Design |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Moanalua Elementary (Honolulu) Noelani Elementary (Honolulu) Manoa Elementary (Honolulu) | Nayatt School (Barrington) Rockwell School (Bristol) Community School (Cumberland) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Iolani School (Honolulu) Punahou School (Honolulu) Kamehameha Schools Kapalama (Honolulu) | Barrington Middle School (Barrington) Wickford Middle School (North Kingstown) Portsmouth Middle School (Portsmouth) |
Top 3 High School Schools | Moanalua High School (Honolulu) Iolani School (Honolulu) Punahou School (Honolulu) | Classical High School (Providence) Barrington High School (Barrington) East Greenwich High (East Greenwich) |
Top 3 private high schools | Iolani School (Honolulu) Punahou School (Honolulu) Kamehameha Schools Kapalama (Honolulu) | St. George's School (Middletown) Moses Brown School (Providence) Wheeler School (Providence) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Le Jardin Academy (Kailua) Punahou School (Honolulu) Iolani School (Honolulu) | Moses Brown School (Providence) Wheeler School (Providence) St. George's School (Middletown) |
Top 3 School Districts | Honolulu District Central Oahu District Leeward District | Barrington School District East Greenwich School District North Kingstown School District |
Top Hawaii to Rhode Island Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Hawaii to Rhode Island movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Two Men and a Truck
Best moving company overall for Hawaii to Rhode Island