Is it cheaper to live in Hilo or Honolulu?

Hilo, HI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,550 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 28% below Honolulu, HI's $2,160, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $39,000 a year in Hilo versus $63,000 in Honolulu.

Which has lower taxes, Hilo or Honolulu?

Neither — both are in Hawaii, so they share the same state tax rates: a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax.

Hilo vs Honolulu Cost of Living 2026

Hilo

Hawaii

$1,550/mo est.

Honolulu

Hawaii

$2,160/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,550 in Hilo, HI versus $2,160 in Honolulu, HI. Overall, Hilo, HI is roughly 28% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Honolulu, HI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $78,713 in Hilo, HI and $85,428 in Honolulu, HI — about 8% higher in Honolulu, HI. Both cities are in Hawaii, so state taxes are identical: a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax.

Hilo, HI

Honolulu, HI

Rent

Studio

$1,180

$1,390

+18% in Honolulu, HI

1 Bedroom

$964

$1,570

+63% in Honolulu, HI

2 Bedroom

$1,283

$1,983

+55% in Honolulu, HI

3 Bedroom

$1,587

$2,433

+53% in Honolulu, HI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$455,100

$834,100

+83% in Honolulu, HI

Income

Median Household Income

$78,713

$85,428

+9% in Honolulu, HI

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,820

$57,220

+10% in Honolulu, HI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

42.6 yr

42.9 yr

+0.3 yr in Honolulu, HI

Homeownership

65.5%

48.6%

+16.9 pp in Hilo, HI

Bachelor's+ (25+)

34.0%

40.8%

+6.8 pp in Honolulu, HI

Avg Commute

20.1 min

22.3 min

+2.2 min in Honolulu, HI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

245.4

214.1

+13% in Hilo, HI

Property Crime

2,043.9

1,919.8

+6% in Hilo, HI

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

73.9°F

77.7°F

+3.8°F in Honolulu, HI

Annual Precipitation

126.7 in

17.1 in

+109.6 in in Hilo, HI

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$5.09/gal

about equal

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$3.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

52.0

about equal

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$70.84

about equal

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 (HI / HI)

about equal

Income Tax (top rate)

11.00%

about equal

Hilo vs Honolulu — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Hilo or Honolulu?: Hilo, HI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,550 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 28% below Honolulu, HI's $2,160, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Hilo than in Honolulu?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $39,000 a year in Hilo versus $63,000 in Honolulu.
Which has lower taxes, Hilo or Honolulu?: Neither — both are in Hawaii, so they share the same state tax rates: 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).