Rhode Island to Hawaii Moving Guide
Updated June 16, 2025

Planning a interstate move from Rhode Island to Hawaii? This moving guide will help you compare living in Rhode Island vs Hawaii across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like harsh winters vs year-round warmth), food & health (like Stuffies vs Poke), real estate & housing (colonial and victorian vs plantation and modern), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Hawaii), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Stuffies and Grilled Pizza, but get your taste buds ready for Poke & Spam Musubi
- Hawaii housing costs are 90% more expensive than they are in Rhode Island
- Rent in Hawaii is 40.88% more expensive than in Rhode Island
- Our top recommended Rhode Island to Hawaii movers is Two Men and a Truck
Rhode Island to Hawaii Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Rhode Island to Hawaii
- Harsh winters
- Limited beaches
- Small state size
- High taxes
- Low biodiversity
- Year-round warmth
- Abundant beaches
- Diverse landscapes
- No sales tax
- Rich biodiversity
- Isolation from mainland
- Higher cost of living
- Expensive imports
- Limited cultural diversity
- Distance from family
- Close-knit communities
- Historic landmarks
- Local seafood
- Cultural festivals
- New England charm
Pros of moving from Rhode Island to Hawaii
- Say goodbye to harsh winters and hello to year-round warmth
- Look forward to moving away from limited beaches and moving to Hawaii with abundant beaches
- Swap the small state size of Rhode Island for diverse landscapes in Hawaii
- Get ready for no sales tax in Hawaii
Cons of moving from Rhode Island to Hawaii
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from close-knit communities in Rhode Island to live with isolation from the mainland in Hawaii
- You'll lose out on the pro of historic landmarks and have to settle for the con of a higher cost of living
- Time to bid farewell to local seafood and get used to expensive imports in Hawaii
- Swap cultural festivals for limited cultural diversity
Rhode Island vs. Hawaii: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Rhode Island | Hawaii |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Stuffies | Poke |
Most popular meat dish | Grilled Pizza | Spam Musubi |
Most popular street food item | Hot Wieners | Shave Ice |
Most popular vegan food | Delicata Squash | Taro Dishes |
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 Rhode Island to Hawaii, you will be trading the iconic Stuffies of Rhode Island for the equally delicious Poke of Hawaii. And while the locals in Rhode Island rave about their flavorful Grilled Pizza and sumptuous Hot Wieners, Hawaii residents know they have tasty Spam Musubi and Shave Ice to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Delicata Squash they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Taro Dishes of Hawaii. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Rhode Island eateries like Al Forno, Iggy's Doughboys, and Cassarino's. 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 Duke's Waikiki.
When comparing lifestyles, Hawaii shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Rhode Island. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Hawaii compared to what you are used to in Rhode Island. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Hawaii.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Rhode Island and Hawaii
Comparison | Rhode Island | Hawaii |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial and Victorian | Plantation and Modern |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Proximity to beaches and historic charm | Ocean views and sustainable living features |
- The Colonial and Victorian architecture that Rhode Island is known for will be replaced with the Plantation and Modern architecture typical of Hawaii.
- Compared to Rhode Island's real estate listings that commonly reference proximity to beaches and historic charm, Hawaii real estate listings often highlight features like ocean views and sustainable living features.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away. Hawaii is less walkable than Rhode Island.
- Hawaii is similarly bike-friendly to Rhode Island.
- Hawaii has less of an urban feel than Rhode Island.
- Hawaii housing costs are 90% more expensive than they are in Rhode Island, with a median home price of $858,106 compared to Rhode Islandβs $451,868.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Hawaii have increased by 38% compared to a 55% increase in Rhode Island.
- Rent in Hawaii is 40.88% more expensive than in Rhode Island.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Rhode Island and Hawaii
Comparison | Rhode Island | 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 | Blizzards, Hurricanes | Volcanic Eruptions, Tsunamis |
Air Quality | Good | Varies (Volcanic Areas Poor) |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 82Β°F/63Β°F | 88Β°F/75Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 40Β°F/20Β°F | 80Β°F/68Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 47" | 63" (Varies greatly by area) |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 33.8" | 0" (Except mountain tops) |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Rhode Island to Hawaii. Hawaii gets 36% more sunshine days than Rhode Island.
- Hawaii has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Rhode Island.
- Say goodbye to the possible blizzards and hurricanes in Rhode Island but be on the lookout for potential volcanic eruptions and tsunamis in Hawaii.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Hawaii is 6 degrees warmer than Rhode Island.
- The average winter lows in Hawaii are 48 degrees warmer than they are in Rhode Island.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Hawaii. Hawaii receives 16 more inches of rain compared to Rhode Island.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Rhode Island and Hawaii
Comparison | Rhode Island | Hawaii |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $81,854 | $92,458 |
Cost of Living Index | 123.3 | 165.7 |
State Income Tax | 3.75% - 5.99% | 1.4% - 11% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.63% | 0.28% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 7% | 4% |
Top 3 Industries | Healthcare, Manufacturing, Education | Tourism, Defense, Agriculture |
Affluence | Moderate | Mixed |
Poverty | Moderate | Notable |
Homelessness | Low | High |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Hawaii tend to earn about 13% more than in Rhode Island
- The COLI in Hawaii will be 34% higher than what you are used to living in Rhode Island
- The state income tax in HI is 1.4% - 11% compared to 3.75% - 5.99% in RI
- The affluence in Hawaii is mixed compared to moderate in Rhode Island
- The poverty level is notable in Hawaii compared to moderate in Rhode Island
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Rhode Island and high in Hawaii
Political and Religious Climate in Rhode Island vs. Hawaii
Comparison | Rhode Island | Hawaii |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Primarily Democratic | Strongly Democratic |
Local Politics | Local governance tends to lean towards liberal policies | Emphasis on environmental and cultural preservation policies |
Religion | Catholicism is prominent | A diverse religious landscape including Buddhism and Christianity |
- Rhode Island tends to lean primarily Democratic in its political climate
- Hawaii, on the other hand, is often described as strongly Democratic
- Hawaii's religious environment can be described as a diverse religious landscape including Buddhism and Christianity
- Rhode Island's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as Catholicism being prominent
Education Guide When Moving from Rhode Island to Hawaii
Comparison | Rhode Island | Hawaii |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Rhode Island Brown University Rhode Island College | University of Hawaii at Manoa Hawaii Pacific University Chaminade University of Honolulu |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Rockwell Elementary School (Bristol) Hampden Meadows School (Barrington) Community School (Cumberland) | Manoa Elementary School (Honolulu) Noelani Elementary School (Honolulu) Maemae Elementary School (Honolulu) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Barrington Middle School (Barrington) Wickford Middle School (North Kingstown) Portsmouth Middle School (Portsmouth) | Iolani School (Honolulu) Punahou School (Honolulu) Kamehameha Schools Kapalama Campus (Honolulu) |
Top 3 High School Schools | Classical High School (Providence) Barrington High School (Barrington) East Greenwich High School (East Greenwich) | President Theodore Roosevelt High School (Honolulu) President William McKinley High School (Honolulu) Moanalua High School (Honolulu) |
Top 3 private high schools | La Salle Academy (Providence) St. George's School (Middletown) Moses Brown School (Providence) | Iolani School (Honolulu) Punahou School (Honolulu) Kamehameha Schools Kapalama Campus (Honolulu) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Moses Brown School (Providence) The Wheeler School (Providence) Lincoln School (Providence) | Le Jardin Academy (Kailua) Island Pacific Academy (Kapolei) Trinity Christian School (Kailua) |
Top 3 School Districts | Barrington School District East Greenwich Public Schools Portsmouth School District | Hawaii Department of Education (Statewide) |
Top Rhode Island to Hawaii Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Rhode Island to Hawaii movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

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