Is it cheaper to live in Aurora or Hilo?

Aurora, CO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 16% below Hilo, HI's $1,550, mainly because of electricity costs.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Aurora versus $39,000 in Hilo.

Which has lower taxes, Aurora or Hilo?

Aurora is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax); Hilo under Hawaii's (a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax).

Aurora vs Hilo Cost of Living 2026

Aurora

Colorado

$1,300/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 $1,300 in Aurora, CO versus $1,550 in Hilo, HI. Overall, Aurora, CO is roughly 16% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Hilo, HI, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $85,364 in Aurora, CO and $78,713 in Hilo, HI — about 8% higher in Aurora, CO. Colorado has a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax; Hawaii has a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax.

Aurora, CO

Hilo, HI

Rent

Studio

—

$1,180

1 Bedroom

$1,138

$964

+15% in Aurora, CO

2 Bedroom

$2,284

$1,283

+44% in Aurora, CO

3 Bedroom

$2,320

$1,587

+32% in Aurora, CO

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$689,000

$455,100

+34% in Aurora, CO

Income

Median Household Income

$85,364

$78,713

+8% in Aurora, CO

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$62,320

$51,820

+17% in Aurora, CO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.3 yr

42.6 yr

+7.3 yr in Hilo, HI

Homeownership

46.0%

65.5%

+19.5 pp in Hilo, HI

Bachelor's+ (25+)

41.4%

34.0%

+7.4 pp in Aurora, CO

Avg Commute

18.7 min

20.1 min

+1.4 min in Hilo, HI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

952.9

245.4

+74% in Aurora, CO

Property Crime

3,368.1

2,043.9

+39% in Aurora, CO

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

50.2°F

73.9°F

+23.7°F in Hilo, HI

Annual Precipitation

15.6 in

126.7 in

+111.1 in in Hilo, HI

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.25/gal

$5.09/gal

+20% in Hilo, HI

Area: Colorado vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.75

—

Adult base one-way fare — RTD vs — (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.2

52.0

+222% in Hilo, HI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$11.92

$70.84

+494% in Hilo, HI

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

about equal

Bread (lb)

$2.04

about equal

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

about equal

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

about equal

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CO / HI)

2.9%

+1.1 pp in HI

Income Tax (top rate)

4.40%

11.00%

+6.6 pp in HI

Aurora vs Hilo — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Aurora or Hilo?: Aurora, CO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 16% below Hilo, HI's $1,550, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Aurora than in Hilo?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Aurora versus $39,000 in Hilo.
Which has lower taxes, Aurora or Hilo?: Aurora is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% 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).