Is it cheaper to live in Cleveland or Hilo?

Cleveland, OH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 39% below Hilo, HI's $1,550, mainly because of electricity costs.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Cleveland versus $39,000 in Hilo.

Which has lower taxes, Cleveland or Hilo?

Cleveland is taxed under Ohio's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax); Hilo under Hawaii's (a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax).

Cleveland vs Hilo Cost of Living 2026

Cleveland

Ohio

$940/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 $940 in Cleveland, OH versus $1,550 in Hilo, HI. Overall, Cleveland, OH is roughly 39% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Hilo, HI, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $39,187 in Cleveland, OH and $78,713 in Hilo, HI — about 50% higher in Hilo, HI. Ohio has a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax; Hawaii has a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax.

Cleveland, OH

Hilo, HI

Rent

Studio

$678

$1,180

+74% in Hilo, HI

1 Bedroom

$732

$964

+32% in Hilo, HI

2 Bedroom

$903

$1,283

+42% in Hilo, HI

3 Bedroom

$1,081

$1,587

+47% in Hilo, HI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$94,100

$455,100

+384% in Hilo, HI

Income

Median Household Income

$39,187

$78,713

+101% in Hilo, HI

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$50,140

$51,820

+3% in Hilo, HI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.3 yr

42.6 yr

+6.3 yr in Hilo, HI

Homeownership

41.2%

65.5%

+24.3 pp in Hilo, HI

Bachelor's+ (25+)

21.3%

34.0%

+12.7 pp in Hilo, HI

Avg Commute

22.9 min

20.1 min

+2.8 min in Cleveland, OH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,582

245.4

+84% in Cleveland, OH

Property Crime

4,531.3

2,043.9

+55% in Cleveland, OH

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

52.7°F

73.9°F

+21.2°F in Hilo, HI

Annual Precipitation

36.4 in

126.7 in

+90.4 in in Hilo, HI

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.18/gal

$5.09/gal

+22% in Hilo, HI

Area: Ohio vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

19.5

52.0

+166% in Hilo, HI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$22.83

$70.84

+210% in Hilo, HI

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Hilo, HI

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$2.04

+23% in Hilo, HI

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Cleveland, OH

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$7.36

+9% in Hilo, HI

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.01

+4% in Cleveland, OH

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Hilo, HI

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (OH / HI)

5.75%

+1.8 pp in OH

Income Tax (top rate)

2.75%

11.00%

+8.3 pp in HI

Cleveland vs Hilo — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cleveland or Hilo?: Cleveland, OH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 39% below Hilo, HI's $1,550, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cleveland than in Hilo?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Cleveland versus $39,000 in Hilo.
Which has lower taxes, Cleveland or Hilo?: Cleveland is taxed under Ohio's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% 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).