U.S. Census Bureau figures show only New York and San Francisco were more expensive places to live than Honolulu last year.

The national average consumer price index is 100. Honolulu was 163.1, Manhattan was 212.3 and San Francisco was 168.5. The index in Las Vegas was 109.8 — much closer to the national average.

And if ranking third in cost of living wasn't enough, Honolulu had the second biggest increase in the overall prices of items — rising 4.8 percent. Of the 26 cities listed, only Tampa-St. Petersburg, Fla., was higher at 5.2 percent.

Housing in Honolulu rose 7.2 percent, fuel and utilities 5.3 percent and food and beverages 5.5 percent.

None of the figures take into account the economic downturn of 2008.