| Index | Hilo | Hawaii | National |
| Cost of living | 135 | 163 | 100 |
| Groceries | 124 | 126 | 100 |
| Health care | 116 | 119 | 100 |
| Housing | 162 | 252 | 100 |
| Transportation | 123 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 131 | 131 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 127 | 127 | 100 |
| Household Items | 115 | 115 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 128 | 132 | 100 |
Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Hilo? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Hilo stands at 135, making it 35% higher than the national average. The cost of living directly affects the affordability of one's desired lifestyle. Knowing the cost of housing, transportation, groceries and other essentials in the new area allows people to gauge whether they can maintain their preferred standard of living.
If you're in pursuit of an economical living environment, Hilo may not fit the bill, as it ranks among the most expensive places to reside in the United States. Just a minority of regions exhibit a cost of living that is more than 20% higher than the national average, and, unfortunately, Hilo falls within this bracket.
Housing costs are a major factor in the Hilo cost of living index, and they often eat up a big chunk of your take-home pay. Unfortunately, in this area, housing expenses for both homeownership and rentals were 62.4% higher than what's typical in an average city. That includes the prices of homes and rents, as well as mortgage rates and insurance.
The routine items you regularly buy for your home, such as cleaning supplies, personal care products, clothing basics, and kitchen essentials, make up 8% of the cost of living index. In Hilo, these items cost 15% more than the national average, making day-to-day living a bit more expensive.
Groceries are getting more expensive by the day and the cost of groceries makes up 13% of the overall cost of living index. In the past two years, prices have shot up by over 10%! Unfortunately, in Hilo, it's the same story – grocery costs are 23.7% higher than what people pay across the country.
Is Hilo an affordable place to live? That's a valid question to ask when you're thinking about moving to a new city. After all, how much it costs to live somewhere can be a huge factor in your decision. Affordability can be broken down into 3 common categories. The cost of living index (we talked about it earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a big role in figuring out if a place is affordable. For instance, in Hilo, the median home price is 83.8% higher than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 12.5% higher than the usual rates. Income levels in Hilo come in at $97,378, which is 19.7% higher than the national average.
Healthcare: Healthcare expenses and insurance premiums can vary significantly depending on the specific city or state. Factors such as accessibility to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for doctor's visits, dental care expenses, prescription costs and specialized medical care fees can all influence the overall cost of living. In Hilo, healthcare costs are 16.2% higher than the national average.
Subsidies: Certain regions may provide government subsidies or assistance initiatives designed to alleviate the cost of living burden on their residents. These programs encompass a wide range of support mechanisms, such as Medicare, Medicaid, housing subsidies, low-income home energy assistance programs, school lunch programs, supplemental nutrition assistance programs, student loans, electric vehicle tax credits, affordable care act subsidies and farming subsidies. Areas with fewer subsidy offerings might experience an elevation in their cost of living.
Utilities: Much like any other costs, utility expenses can exhibit considerable variations, influenced by factors such as climate, available energy sources, geographic location and state regulations. The costs associated with electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can vary significantly depending on the city or state in question. In Hilo, the utilities index stands at 31.4% higher than the national average.
The cost of living data for Hilo shown above is based on a U.S. average baseline score of 100, making it easier to compare how far your dollar may go from one city to another. Housing uses U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all remaining values are AI-assisted estimates informed by regional pricing, climate, transportation dynamics, and local economic factors. These scores are best used for directional comparisons between cities.
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| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $129,003 | $10,750 | $3,010 | $3,870 |
| Renters | $48,625 | $4,052 | $1,135 | $1,459 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| Hawaii | 4% | 4.712% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| Hawaii | 1.4% | 11% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Eden Roc, HI | 726 | 107 | 7.4% |
| Nanawale Estates, HI | 1,437 | 113 | 13.5% |
| Ainaloa, HI | 3,733 | 119 | 18.6% |
| Fern Acres, HI | 1,783 | 120 | 19.6% |
| Mountain View, HI | 3,612 | 121 | 21.5% |
| Hilo, HI | 47,057 | 135 | 35.0% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Biloxi, MS | 47,008 | 95 | 5.2% |
| Cleveland, TN | 46,880 | 95 | 4.7% |
| Kyle, TX | 47,247 | 107 | 7.4% |
| Coachella, CA | 46,858 | 115 | 14.9% |
| Oro Valley, AZ | 46,840 | 123 | 23.0% |
| Hilo, HI | 47,057 | 135 | 35.0% |
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