Utah to Hawaii Moving Guide
Updated June 20, 2025

Planning a interstate move from Utah to Hawaii? This moving guide will help you compare living in Utah vs Hawaii across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like cold winters vs warm year-round), food & health (like Funeral Potatoes vs Poke), real estate & housing (prairie, ranch vs plantation, modern), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Hawaii), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Funeral Potatoes and Utah Scones with Honey Butter, but get your taste buds ready for Poke & Spam Musubi
- Hawaii housing costs are 65% more expensive than they are in Utah
- Rent in Hawaii is 74.13% more expensive than in Utah
- Our top recommended Utah to Hawaii movers is 801 Moving Company
Utah to Hawaii Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Utah to Hawaii
- Cold winters
- High desert terrain
- Limited beaches
- Dry climate
- Elevation changes
- Warm year-round
- Tropical scenery
- Abundant coastlines
- Lush greenery
- Sea level living
- Expensive lifestyle
- Limited space
- Less seasonal variation
- Volcanic activity
- No skiing options
- Low cost of living
- Space and land
- Four seasons
- National parks
- Ski resorts
Pros of moving from Utah to Hawaii
- Say goodbye to cold winters and hello to warm year-round
- Look forward to moving away from high desert terrain and moving to Hawaii with tropical scenery
- Swap the limited beaches of Utah for abundant coastlines in Hawaii
- Get ready for lush greenery in Hawaii
Cons of moving from Utah to Hawaii
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the low cost of living in Utah to live with an expensive lifestyle in Hawaii
- You'll lose out on the pro of space and land and have to settle for the con of limited space
- Time to bid farewell to four seasons and get used to less seasonal variation in Hawaii
- Swap national parks for volcanic activity
Utah vs. Hawaii: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Utah | Hawaii |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Funeral Potatoes | Poke |
Most popular meat dish | Utah Scones with Honey Butter | Spam Musubi |
Most popular street food item | Fry Sauce | Shave Ice |
Most popular vegan food | Vegan Chili | Tofu Poke |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
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Fitness/Health Conscientiousness (out of 10) | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ |
Abundance of Food Trucks (out of 10) | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Foodie Scene (out of 10) | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ |
Vegan Friendly (out of 10) | 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 Utah to Hawaii, you will be trading the iconic Funeral Potatoes of Utah for the equally delicious Poke of Hawaii. And while the locals in Utah rave about their flavorful Utah Scones with Honey Butter and sumptuous Fry Sauce, Hawaii residents know they have tasty Spam Musubi and Shave Ice to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Vegan Chili they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Tofu Poke of Hawaii. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Utah eateries like Red Iguana, Hire's Big H, and Banza. 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 Rainbow Drive-In.
When comparing lifestyles, Hawaii shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Utah. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Hawaii compared to what you are used to in Utah. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Hawaii.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Utah and Hawaii
Comparison | Utah | Hawaii |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Prairie, Ranch | Plantation, Modern |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Spacious backyards, mountain views | Ocean views, proximity to beaches |
- The Prairie and Ranch architecture that Utah is known for will be replaced with the Plantation and Modern architecture typical of Hawaii.
- Compared to Utah's real estate listings that commonly reference spacious backyards and mountain views, Hawaii real estate listings often highlight features like ocean views and proximity to beaches.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away. Hawaii is less walkable than Utah.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike. Hawaii is less bike-friendly than Utah.
- Hawaii has more of an urban feel than Utah.
- Hawaii housing costs are 65% more expensive than they are in Utah, with a median home price of $858,106 compared to Utahβs $519,182.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Hawaii have increased by 38% compared to a 56% increase in Utah.
- Rent in Hawaii is 74.13% more expensive than in Utah.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Utah and Hawaii
Comparison | Utah | 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, Earthquakes | Hurricanes, Tsunamis |
Air Quality | Variable | Good |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85Β°F / 60Β°F | 88Β°F / 75Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 37Β°F / 20Β°F | 78Β°F / 63Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 20" | 63" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 56" | 0" |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Utah to Hawaii. Hawaii gets 22% more sunshine days than Utah.
- Hawaii has higher humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Utah.
- Say goodbye to the possible blizzards and earthquakes in Utah, but be on the lookout for potential hurricanes and tsunamis in Hawaii.
- The average summer high temperature in Hawaii is 3 degrees warmer than in Utah.
- The average winter lows are 43 degrees warmer than they are in Utah.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Hawaii. Hawaii receives 43 more inches of rain compared to Utah.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Utah and Hawaii
Comparison | Utah | Hawaii |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $89,168 | $92,458 |
Cost of Living Index | 95.75 | 165.7 |
State Income Tax | 4.95% | 8.25% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.58% | 0.28% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6.10% | 4.40% |
Top 3 Industries | Mining, Agriculture, Tourism | Tourism, Military, Agriculture |
Affluence | Moderate | High |
Poverty | Low | Moderate |
Homelessness | Low | High |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Hawaii tend to earn about 4% more than in Utah
- The COLI in Hawaii will be 73% higher than what you are used to living in Utah
- The state income tax in HI is 8.25% compared to 4.95% in UT
- The affluence in Hawaii is high compared to moderate in Utah
- The poverty level is moderate in Hawaii compared to low in Utah
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Utah and high in Hawaii
Political and Religious Climate in Utah vs. Hawaii
Comparison | Utah | Hawaii |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Primarily Republican | Primarily Democratic |
Local Politics | Conservative with a focus on family values | Liberal, with strong environmental and multicultural initiatives |
Religion | Largely Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) | Diverse; large Buddhist and Christian communities |
- Utah tends to lean primarily Republican in its political climate
- Hawaii, on the other hand, is often described as primarily Democratic
- Hawaii's religious environment can be described as diverse with large Buddhist and Christian communities
- Utah's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as largely Latter-day Saints (LDS Church)
Education Guide When Moving from Utah to Hawaii
Comparison | Utah | Hawaii |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Utah Brigham Young University Utah State University | University of Hawaii at Manoa Hawaii Pacific University Chaminade University of Honolulu |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Canyon View Elementary (Cedar City) Oakridge Elementary (Farmington) North Star Elementary (Salt Lake City) | PΕ«Κ»Εhala Elementary (Kaneohe) Aina Haina Elementary (Honolulu) MaΚ»emaΚ»e Elementary (Honolulu) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Foothill Middle (Wendover) Pine View Middle (Saint George) Centennial Middle (Provo) | Iolani School (Honolulu) Kamehameha Middle School (Honolulu) Punahou School (Honolulu) |
Top 3 High Schools | Academy for Math Engineering & Science (Salt Lake City) Itineris Early College High (West Jordan) Northern Utah Academy for Math Engineering & Science (Layton) | President Theodore Roosevelt High (Honolulu) Henry J. Kaiser High (Honolulu) Kalani High (Honolulu) |
Top 3 private high schools | Rowland Hall (Salt Lake City) Waterford School (Sandy) Juan Diego Catholic High (Draper) | Iolani School (Honolulu) Punahou School (Honolulu) Kamehameha Schools KapΔlama Campus (Honolulu) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Waterford School (Sandy) Rowland Hall (Salt Lake City) The Madeleine Choir School (Salt Lake City) | Iolani School (Honolulu) Punahou School (Honolulu) Le Jardin Academy (Kailua) |
Top 3 School Districts | Davis School District Park City School District Alpine School District | Hawaii Department of Education (statewide) Honolulu District Central Oahu District |
Top Utah to Hawaii Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Utah to Hawaii movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.