Is it cheaper to live in Arlington or Hilo?

Arlington, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,380 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 11% below Hilo, HI's $1,550, mainly because of electricity costs.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Arlington than in Hilo?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Arlington versus $39,000 in Hilo.

Which has lower taxes, Arlington or Hilo?

Arlington is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Hilo under Hawaii's (a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax).

Arlington vs Hilo Cost of Living 2026

Arlington

Texas

$1,380/mo est.

Hilo

Hawaii

$1,550/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,380 in Arlington, TX versus $1,550 in Hilo, HI. Overall, Arlington, TX is roughly 11% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Hilo, HI, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $73,519 in Arlington, TX and $78,713 in Hilo, HI — about 7% higher in Hilo, HI. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax; Hawaii has a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax.

Arlington, TX

Hilo, HI

Rent

Studio

$1,088

$1,180

+8% in Hilo, HI

1 Bedroom

$1,183

$964

+19% in Arlington, TX

2 Bedroom

$1,410

$1,283

+9% in Arlington, TX

3 Bedroom

$1,819

$1,587

+13% in Arlington, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$276,400

$455,100

+65% in Hilo, HI

Income

Median Household Income

$73,519

$78,713

+7% in Hilo, HI

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,440

$51,820

+1% in Hilo, HI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

33.6 yr

42.6 yr

+9.0 yr in Hilo, HI

Homeownership

54.8%

65.5%

+10.7 pp in Hilo, HI

Bachelor's+ (25+)

33.1%

34.0%

+0.9 pp in Hilo, HI

Avg Commute

26.7 min

20.1 min

+6.6 min in Arlington, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

494.2

245.4

+50% in Arlington, TX

Property Crime

2,434.5

2,043.9

+16% in Arlington, TX

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

65.4°F

73.9°F

+8.5°F in Hilo, HI

Annual Precipitation

39.6 in

126.7 in

+87.1 in in Hilo, HI

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$5.09/gal

+41% in Hilo, HI

Area: Texas vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

N/A

—

Adult base one-way fare — Arlington On-Demand (Via) vs — (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.4

52.0

+216% in Hilo, HI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$30.48

$70.84

+132% in Hilo, HI

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.82

+20% in Hilo, HI

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$2.04

+17% in Hilo, HI

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Arlington, TX

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$7.36

+14% in Hilo, HI

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.01

+6% in Hilo, HI

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Hilo, HI

Average prices — South vs West (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (TX / HI)

6.25%

+2.3 pp in TX

Income Tax (top rate)

None

11.00%

+11.0 pp in HI

Arlington vs Hilo — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Arlington or Hilo?: Arlington, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,380 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 11% below Hilo, HI's $1,550, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Arlington than in Hilo?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Arlington versus $39,000 in Hilo.
Which has lower taxes, Arlington or Hilo?: Arlington is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Hilo under Hawaii's (a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).