Missouri to Hawaii Moving Guide
Updated June 7, 2025

Planning a interstate move from Missouri to Hawaii? This moving guide will help you compare living in Missouri vs Hawaii across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like harsh winters vs year-round mild climate), food & health (like St. Louis-style pizza vs Poke), real estate & housing (ranch, colonial vs plantation, modern), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Hawaii), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to St. Louis-style pizza and Kansas City barbecue, but get your taste buds ready for Poke & Luau Pork
- Hawaii housing costs are 253% more expensive than they are in Missouri
- Rent in Hawaii is 119.71% more expensive than in Missouri
- Our top recommended Missouri to Hawaii movers is Sunrise Moving and Packing, LLC
Missouri to Hawaii Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Missouri to Hawaii
- Harsh winters
- Limited beach access
- Traditional cuisine
- Expansive flatlands
- Landlocked state
- Year-round mild climate
- Beautiful beaches
- Diverse culinary scene
- Stunning landscapes and volcanoes
- Island lifestyle
- High living expenses
- Potential isolation
- Remote location
- Lack of seasonal change
- Year-round similar activities
- Lower cost of living
- Strong local community
- Central location
- Four seasons
- Variety of seasons activities
Pros of moving from Missouri to Hawaii
- Say goodbye to harsh winters and hello to a year-round mild climate
- Look forward to moving away from limited beach access and moving to Hawaii with beautiful beaches
- Swap the traditional cuisine of Missouri for a diverse culinary scene in Hawaii
- Get ready for stunning landscapes and volcanoes in Hawaii
Cons of moving from Missouri to Hawaii
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from a lower cost of living in Missouri to live with high living expenses in Hawaii
- You'll lose out on the pro of a strong local community and have to settle with the con of potential isolation
- Time to bid farewell to a central location and get used to a remote location in Hawaii
- Swap four seasons for a lack of seasonal change
Missouri vs. Hawaii: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Missouri | Hawaii |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | St. Louis-style pizza | Poke |
Most popular meat dish | Kansas City barbecue | Luau Pork |
Most popular street food item | Toasted Ravioli | Spam Musubi |
Most popular vegan food | BBQ Jackfruit Sandwich | AΓ§aΓ Bowl |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
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Fitness/Health Conscientiousness | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ |
Abundance of Food Trucks | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Foodie Scene | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ |
Vegan Friendly | π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π± | π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π± |
If you're moving from Missouri to Hawaii, you will be trading the iconic St. Louis-style pizza of Missouri for the equally delicious Poke of Hawaii. And while the locals in Missouri rave about their flavorful Kansas City barbecue and sumptuous Toasted Ravioli, Hawaii residents know they have tasty Luau Pork and Spam Musubi to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the BBQ Jackfruit Sandwich they've grown to love, they can get ready for the AΓ§aΓ Bowl of Hawaii. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Missouri eateries like Pappy's Smokehouse, Arthur Bryant's, and Ted Drewes Frozen Custard. After the boxes are unpacked in Hawaii, don't wait too long before making your way to Hawaii's acclaimed eateries like Helena's Hawaiian Food, Leonard's Bakery, and Aloha Mixed Plate.
When comparing lifestyles, Hawaii shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Missouri. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Hawaii compared to what you are used to in Missouri. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Hawaii.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Missouri and Hawaii
Comparison | Missouri | Hawaii |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Ranch, Colonial | Plantation, Modern |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Spacious yards, basements | Ocean views, lanais |
- The Ranch and Colonial architecture that Missouri is known for will be replaced with the Plantation and Modern architecture typical of Hawaii.
- Compared to Missouri's real estate listings that commonly reference spacious yards and basements, Hawaii real estate listings often highlight features like ocean views and lanais.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Hawaii is more walkable than Missouri.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Hawaii is more bike-friendly than Missouri.
- Hawaii has more of an urban feel than Missouri.
- Hawaii housing costs are 253% more expensive than they are in Missouri, with a median home price of $858,106 compared to Missouriβs $243,216.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Hawaii have increased by 38% compared to a 49% increase in Missouri.
- Rent in Hawaii is 119.71% more expensive than in Missouri.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Missouri and Hawaii
Comparison | Missouri | Hawaii |
---|---|---|
Days of Sunshine per Year | βοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈ | βοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈ |
Avg. Annual Humidity | π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦ | π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦ |
Avg. UV Index | πΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈ | πΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈ |
Natural Disasters | Tornadoes, Severe Thunderstorms | Volcanic Eruptions, Hurricanes |
Air Quality | Moderate | Good |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 88/67 | 85/70 |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 40/23 | 78/63 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 42 | 63 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 18 | 0 (except on mountain tops) |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Missouri to Hawaii. Hawaii gets 32% more sunshine days than Missouri.
- Hawaii has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Missouri.
- Say goodbye to the possible tornadoes and severe thunderstorms in Missouri, but be on the lookout for potential volcanic eruptions and hurricanes in Hawaii.
- The average summer high temperature in Hawaii is 3 degrees colder than in Missouri.
- The average winter lows are 40 degrees warmer than they are in Missouri.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Hawaii. Hawaii receives 21 more inches of rain compared to Missouri.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Missouri and Hawaii
Comparison | Missouri | Hawaii |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $64,811 | $92,458 |
Cost of Living Index | 91.8 | 165.7 |
State Income Tax | 0% - 5.4% | 1.4% - 11% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.97% | 0.28% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 8.03% | 4.44% |
Top 3 Industries | Healthcare, Agriculture, Manufacturing | Tourism, Defense, Agriculture |
Affluence | Moderate | High |
Poverty | Moderate | Low |
Homelessness | Low | High |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Hawaii tend to earn about 43% more than in Missouri
- The COLI in Hawaii is 81% higher than what you are used to living in Missouri
- The state income tax in HI is 1.4% - 11% compared to 0% - 5.4% in MO
- The affluence in Hawaii is high compared to moderate affluence in Missouri
- The poverty level is low in Hawaii compared to moderate poverty in Missouri
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Missouri and high in Hawaii
Political and Religious Climate in Missouri vs. Hawaii
Comparison | Missouri | Hawaii |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Leans Republican | Leans Democratic |
Local Politics | Conservative policies in rural areas, more liberal in urban centers | Liberal policies, with a focus on environmental and indigenous rights |
Religion | Predominantly Christian, with a significant presence of Baptists and Catholics <a href="https://mbch.org/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Missouri Baptist Convention</a>, Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau | Diverse religious landscape, including Buddhism, Shinto, and Christianity Honpa Hongwanji Hawaii |
- Missouri tends to lean Republican in its political climate
- Hawaii, on the other hand, is often described as leaning Democratic
- Hawaii's religious environment can be described as a diverse religious landscape, including Buddhism, Shinto, and Christianity Honpa Hongwanji Hawaii
- Missouri's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as predominantly Christian, with a significant presence of Baptists and Catholics from the Missouri Baptist Convention and the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau
Education Guide When Moving from Missouri to Hawaii
Comparison | Missouri | Hawaii |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Missouri Missouri State University University of Missouri-Kansas City | University of Hawaii at Manoa Hawaii Pacific University Chaminade University of Honolulu |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Conway Elementary (Ladue) Wilson School (Clayton) Mason Ridge Elementary (Town and Country) | Parkway Elementary (Kapolei) Noelani Elementary (Honolulu) Manoa Elementary (Honolulu) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Ladue Middle School (Ladue) Pembroke Hill School (Kansas City) John Burroughs School (St. Louis) | Iolani School (Honolulu) Kamehameha Schools Kapalama Campus (Honolulu) Punahou School (Honolulu) |
Top 3 High School Schools | Clayton High School (Clayton) Ladue Horton Watkins High School (Ladue) Pembroke Hill School (Kansas City) | Punahou School (Honolulu) Iolani School (Honolulu) Moanalua High School (Honolulu) |
Top 3 private high schools | Pembroke Hill School (Kansas City) John Burroughs School (St. Louis) MICDS (St. Louis) | Iolani School (Honolulu) Punahou School (Honolulu) Kamehameha Schools Kapalama Campus (Honolulu) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Pembroke Hill School (Kansas City) MICDS (St. Louis) The Barstow School (Kansas City) | Punahou School (Honolulu) Iolani School (Honolulu) Kamehameha Schools Kapalama Campus (Honolulu) |
Top 3 School Districts | Clayton School District Ladue School District Parkway School District | Hawaii Department of Education (statewide) Honolulu School District Kaimuki-McKinley-Roosevelt Complex Area |
Top Missouri to Hawaii Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Missouri to Hawaii movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

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