Is Hilo expensive to live in?

Hilo is around the middle of the 112 US cities we track. Its one-bedroom rent of $964 per month ranks #74 of 112 and is 11% lower than the $1,080 median.

What is the average rent in Hilo?

Average rent in Hilo, HI runs a studio around $1,180, a one-bedroom around $964, a two-bedroom around $1,283, a three-bedroom around $1,587 per month (US Census ACS).

How much do you need to earn to live in Hilo?

To keep a one-bedroom rent of $964 near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $39,000 a year. The median household income here is $78,713.

How much does it cost to live in Hilo per month?

A rough monthly baseline for one person in Hilo is about $1,550 — one-bedroom rent plus typical residential electricity and heating. It excludes food, transport, and healthcare, so a full budget is higher.

Cost of Living in Hilo, HI

Population 48,223 · Hawaii

~$1,550/mo est.1BR $964Home $455,100

Compare with:

The cost of living in Hilo, HI is driven mostly by housing. A one-bedroom apartment rents for around $964 a month — 11% lower than the $1,080 median across the 112 large US cities we track. Studios average $1,180 and two-bedrooms $1,283.

Median household income here is $78,713, 13% higher than the $69,423 median of the cities we track. Adding typical electricity and heating to one-bedroom rent, a rough monthly baseline for one person is about $1,550 before food and transport. Hawaii has a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax.

Rent1BR $964

Studio

$1,180

1 Bedroom

$964

2 Bedroom

$1,283

3 Bedroom

$1,587

Buying a Home$455,100

Median Home Value

$455,100

Income$78,713

Median Household Income

$78,713

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,820

Household income: Census ACS, city. Metro median wage: BLS OEWS, all occupations, 2025 (metro area).

GroceriesWest

Milk (gal)

$4.82

Bread (lb)

$2.04

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

Average prices, West (BLS, 2026-07-01). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

Utilities52.0¢/kWh

Electricity

52.0¢/kWh

Natural Gas

$70.84/MCF

Residential, state-level averages (EIA, 2026-05-01). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Gas$5.09/gal

Regular Gasoline (West Coast (PADD 5))

$5.09/gal

EIA weekly retail average, week of 2026-08-17.

State Taxes (HI)4% sales

State Sales Tax

State Income Tax (top rate)

Up to 11.00%

State-level rates. Local sales taxes may add more. Income tax shown is the top marginal rate; most filers pay less.

Crime245.4 violent

Violent Crime (per 100k/yr)

245.4

Property Crime (per 100k/yr)

2,043.9

FBI Crime Data Explorer, Hawaii Police Department (2024). Offenses per 100,000 residents per year. Agency reporting practices vary, so cross-city comparisons are approximate.

People & LifestyleAge 42.6 yrs

Median Age

42.6 yrs

Homeownership

65.5%

Bachelor's+ (25+)

34.0%

Avg Commute

20.1 min

Climate73.9°F

Avg Annual Temperature

73.9°F

Annual Precipitation

126.7 in

Hilo cost of living — FAQ

Is Hilo expensive to live in?: Hilo is around the middle of the 112 US cities we track. Its one-bedroom rent of $964 per month ranks #74 of 112 and is 11% lower than the $1,080 median.
What is the average rent in Hilo?: Average rent in Hilo, HI runs a studio around $1,180, a one-bedroom around $964, a two-bedroom around $1,283, a three-bedroom around $1,587 per month (US Census ACS).
How much do you need to earn to live in Hilo?: To keep a one-bedroom rent of $964 near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $39,000 a year. The median household income here is $78,713.
How much does it cost to live in Hilo per month?: A rough monthly baseline for one person in Hilo is about $1,550 — one-bedroom rent plus typical residential electricity and heating. It excludes food, transport, and healthcare, so a full budget is higher.

Compare Hilo with nearby cities

Hilo vs Honolulu Hilo vs San Francisco Hilo vs Sacramento Hilo vs Fresno Hilo vs Bakersfield Hilo vs Long Beach

Nearby cities

Honolulu, HI 210 mi San Francisco, CA 2320 mi Sacramento, CA 2388 mi Fresno, CA 2429 mi Bakersfield, CA 2441 mi Long Beach, CA 2458 mi

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981-2010 (climate); EIA (gas, utilities); BLS Average Price Data (groceries) & OEWS (metro wage); transit agencies (fares); FBI Crime Data Explorer (crime); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes). Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + utilities; not a full cost of living.