Hawaii to Utah Moving Guide
Updated June 7, 2025

Planning a interstate move from Hawaii to Utah? This moving guide will help you compare living in Hawaii vs Utah across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high living costs vs affordable housing), food & health (like Poke vs Fry Sauce), real estate & housing (plantation, modern hawaiian vs prairie, craftsman), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Hawaii), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Poke and Kalua Pig, but get your taste buds ready for Fry Sauce & Fry Bread
- Utah housing costs are 39% less expensive than they are in Hawaii
- Rent in Utah is 42.57% more affordable than in Hawaii
- Our top recommended Hawaii to Utah movers is 801 Moving Company
Hawaii to Utah Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Hawaii to Utah
- High living costs
- Limited career options
- Isolated location
- Natural disasters
- Affordable housing
- Diverse job market
- Greater connectivity
- Stable climate
- No ocean access
- Snowy winters
- Cultural adjustment
- Different lifestyle pace
- Beautiful beaches
- Warm climate year-round
- Rich Polynesian culture
- Outdoor activities
Pros of moving from Hawaii to Utah
- Say goodbye to high living costs and hello to affordable housing
- Look forward to moving away from limited career options and moving to Utah with a diverse job market
- Swap the isolated location of Hawaii for greater connectivity in Utah
- Get ready for a stable climate in Utah
Cons of moving from Hawaii to Utah
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from beautiful beaches in Hawaii to live with no ocean access in Utah
- You'll lose out on the pro of a warm climate year-round and have to settle with the con of snowy winters
- Time to bid farewell to rich Polynesian culture and get used to cultural adjustments in Utah
- Swap outdoor activities for a different lifestyle pace
Hawaii vs. Utah: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Hawaii | Utah |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Poke | Fry Sauce |
Most popular meat dish | Kalua Pig | Fry Bread |
Most popular street food item | Shave Ice | Navajo Taco |
Most popular vegan food | Taro-based dishes | Quinoa bowls |
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 Utah, you will be trading the iconic Poke of Hawaii for the equally delicious Fry Sauce of Utah. And while the locals in Hawaii rave about their flavorful Kalua Pig and sumptuous Shave Ice, Utah residents know they have tasty Fry Bread and Navajo Taco 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 Quinoa bowls of Utah. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Hawaii eateries like Helena's Hawaiian Food, Leilani's on the Beach, and Duke's Waikiki. After the boxes are unpacked in Utah, don't wait too long before making your way to Utah's acclaimed eateries like Log Haven, Red Iguana, and Squatters Pub.
When comparing lifestyles, Utah shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Hawaii. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Utah compared to what you are used to in Hawaii. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Utah.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Hawaii and Utah
Comparison | Hawaii | Utah |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Plantation, Modern Hawaiian | Prairie, Craftsman |
Walkability | 👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟 | 👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟 |
Bikeability | 🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲 | 🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲 |
Urban Lifestyle | 🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️ | 🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Ocean view, Lanai | Mountain view, Energy efficiency |
- The Plantation and Modern Hawaiian architecture that Hawaii is known for will be replaced with the Prairie and Craftsman architecture typical of Utah.
- Compared to Hawaii's real estate listings that commonly reference ocean views and lanais, Utah real estate listings often highlight features like mountain views and energy efficiency.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Utah is more walkable than Hawaii.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Utah is more bike-friendly than Hawaii.
- Utah has more of an urban feel than Hawaii.
- Utah housing costs are 39% less expensive than they are in Hawaii, with a median home price of $519,182 compared to Hawaii’s $858,106.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Utah have increased by 56% compared to a 38% increase in Hawaii.
- Rent in Utah is 42.57% more affordable than in Hawaii.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Hawaii and Utah
Comparison | Hawaii | Utah |
---|---|---|
Days of Sunshine per Year | ☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️ | ☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️ |
Avg. Annual Humidity | 💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦 | 💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦 |
Avg. UV Index | 🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️ | 🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️ |
Natural Disasters | Hurricanes, Tsunamis | Earthquakes, Wildfires |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (°F) | 85°F/75°F | 90°F/60°F |
Average Winter High/Low (°F) | 78°F/64°F | 37°F/20°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 63 | 20 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 0 | 56 |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Hawaii to Utah. Utah gets 12% fewer sunshine days than Hawaii.
- Utah has lower 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 earthquakes and wildfires in Utah.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Utah is 5 degrees warmer than in Hawaii.
- The average winter lows in Utah are 44 degrees colder than they are in Hawaii.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Utah. Utah receives 43 fewer inches of rain compared to Hawaii.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Hawaii and Utah
Comparison | Hawaii | Utah |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $92,458 | $89,168 |
Cost of Living Index | 165.7 | 95.75 |
State Income Tax | 11% | 5% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.28% | 0.66% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 4.44% | 6.10% |
Top 3 Industries | Tourism, Defense, Agriculture | Technology, Mining, Manufacturing |
Affluence | High | Moderate |
Poverty | Moderate | Low |
Homelessness | High | Low |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Utah tend to earn about 4% less than in Hawaii
- The COLI in Utah will be 42% lower than what you are used to living in Hawaii
- The state income tax in Utah is 5% compared to 11% in Hawaii
- The affluence in Utah is moderate compared to high in Hawaii
- The poverty level is low in Utah compared to moderate in Hawaii
- In terms of homelessness, it is high in Hawaii and low in Utah
Political and Religious Climate in Hawaii vs. Utah
Comparison | Hawaii | Utah |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Liberal/Democratic | Conservative/Republican |
Local Politics | Progressive on social issues | Conservative, with emphasis on local governance |
Religion | Multicultural, diverse | Predominantly LDS (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) |
- Hawaii tends to lean Liberal/Democratic in its political climate
- Utah, on the other hand, is often described as Conservative/Republican
- Utah's religious environment can be described as predominantly LDS (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)
- Hawaii's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as multicultural and diverse
Education Guide When Moving from Hawaii to Utah
Comparison | Hawaii | Utah |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Hawaii at Manoa Hawaii Pacific University Chaminade University of Honolulu | Brigham Young University University of Utah Utah State University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Momilani Elementary School (Pearl City) Noelani Elementary School (Honolulu) Manoa Elementary School (Honolulu) | Edgemont Elementary School (Provo) Hawthorne Elementary School (Salt Lake City) Canyon View Elementary School (Cottonwood Heights) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Iolani School (Honolulu) Punahou School (Honolulu) Kamehameha Schools Kapalama Campus (Honolulu) | Renaissance Academy (Lehi) The Waterford School (Sandy) Carden Memorial School (Salt Lake City) |
Top 3 High School Schools | Iolani School (Honolulu) Punahou School (Honolulu) Kamehameha Schools Kapalama Campus (Honolulu) | The Waterford School (Sandy) Rowland Hall (Salt Lake City) Park City High School (Park City) |
Top 3 private high schools | Iolani School (Honolulu) Punahou School (Honolulu) Kamehameha Schools Kapalama Campus (Honolulu) | The Waterford School (Sandy) Rowland Hall (Salt Lake City) Juan Diego Catholic High School (Draper) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | La Pietra Hawaii School for Girls (Honolulu) Iolani School (Honolulu) Le Jardin Academy (Kailua) | The Waterford School (Sandy) Rowland Hall (Salt Lake City) Layton Christian Academy (Layton) |
Top 3 School Districts | Hawaii Department of Education (Statewide) | Davis School District Canyons School District Alpine School District |
Top Hawaii to Utah Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Hawaii to Utah movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.