Is it cheaper to live in Fort Wayne or Hilo?

Fort Wayne, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $960 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 38% below Hilo, HI's $1,550, mainly because of electricity costs.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $31,000 a year in Fort Wayne versus $39,000 in Hilo.

Which has lower taxes, Fort Wayne or Hilo?

Fort Wayne is taxed under Indiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax); Hilo under Hawaii's (a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax).

Fort Wayne vs Hilo Cost of Living 2026

Fort Wayne

Indiana

$960/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 $960 in Fort Wayne, IN versus $1,550 in Hilo, HI. Overall, Fort Wayne, IN is roughly 38% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Hilo, HI, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $60,293 in Fort Wayne, IN and $78,713 in Hilo, HI — about 23% higher in Hilo, HI. Indiana has a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax; Hawaii has a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax.

Fort Wayne, IN

Hilo, HI

Rent

Studio

$798

$1,180

+48% in Hilo, HI

1 Bedroom

$782

$964

+23% in Hilo, HI

2 Bedroom

$984

$1,283

+30% in Hilo, HI

3 Bedroom

$1,100

$1,587

+44% in Hilo, HI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$169,700

$455,100

+168% in Hilo, HI

Income

Median Household Income

$60,293

$78,713

+31% in Hilo, HI

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$47,700

$51,820

+9% in Hilo, HI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.0 yr

42.6 yr

+7.6 yr in Hilo, HI

Homeownership

62.2%

65.5%

+3.3 pp in Hilo, HI

Bachelor's+ (25+)

28.5%

34.0%

+5.5 pp in Hilo, HI

Avg Commute

21.4 min

20.1 min

+1.3 min in Fort Wayne, IN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

308.9

245.4

+21% in Fort Wayne, IN

Property Crime

2,245.4

2,043.9

+9% in Fort Wayne, IN

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

50.5°F

73.9°F

+23.4°F in Hilo, HI

Annual Precipitation

38.3 in

126.7 in

+88.4 in in Hilo, HI

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$5.09/gal

+29% in Hilo, HI

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

18.1

52.0

+187% in Hilo, HI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$13.70

$70.84

+417% 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 Fort Wayne, IN

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$7.36

+9% in Hilo, HI

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.01

+4% in Fort Wayne, IN

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 (IN / HI)

+3.0 pp in IN

Income Tax (top rate)

2.95%

11.00%

+8.1 pp in HI

Fort Wayne vs Hilo — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fort Wayne or Hilo?: Fort Wayne, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $960 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 38% below Hilo, HI's $1,550, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fort Wayne than in Hilo?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $31,000 a year in Fort Wayne versus $39,000 in Hilo.
Which has lower taxes, Fort Wayne or Hilo?: Fort Wayne is taxed under Indiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% 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).