Living Cost Compare
Hilo

Hawaii

$1,550/mo est.

vs
Kansas City

Missouri

$1,200/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 $1,200 in Kansas City, MO. Overall, Kansas City, MO is roughly 23% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Hilo, HI, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $78,713 in Hilo, HI and $67,449 in Kansas City, MO — about 14% higher in Hilo, HI. Hawaii has a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax; Missouri has a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax.

Hilo, HI
Kansas City, MO

Rent

Studio
$1,180
$961
+19% in Hilo, HI
1 Bedroom
$964
$1,031
+7% in Kansas City, MO
2 Bedroom
$1,283
$1,211
+6% in Hilo, HI
3 Bedroom
$1,587
$1,381
+13% in Hilo, HI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$455,100
$227,000
+50% in Hilo, HI

Income

Median Household Income
$78,713
$67,449
+14% in Hilo, HI
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,820
$50,820
+2% in Hilo, HI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
42.6 yr
35.7 yr
+6.9 yr in Hilo, HI
Homeownership
65.5%
54.6%
+10.9 pp in Hilo, HI
Bachelor's+ (25+)
34.0%
37.8%
+3.8 pp in Kansas City, MO
Avg Commute
20.1 min
21.9 min
+1.8 min in Kansas City, MO

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
245.4
1,557.1
+535% in Kansas City, MO
Property Crime
2,043.9
4,722.1
+131% in Kansas City, MO

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
56.7°F
+17.2°F in Hilo, HI
Annual Precipitation
126.7 in
39.1 in
+87.7 in in Hilo, HI

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.09/gal
$3.94/gal
+23% in Hilo, HI

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
52.0
13.7
+74% in Hilo, HI
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$70.84
$24.13
+66% in Hilo, HI

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.31
+10% in Hilo, HI
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$1.66
+19% in Hilo, HI
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$3.63
+66% in Kansas City, MO
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.77
+8% in Hilo, HI
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$2.10
+4% in Kansas City, MO
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.62
+12% in Hilo, HI

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (HI / MO)
4%
4.225%
+0.2 pp in MO
Income Tax (top rate)
11.00%
4.70%
+6.3 pp in HI

Hilo vs Kansas City — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Hilo or Kansas City?
Kansas City, MO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,200 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 23% below Hilo, HI's $1,550, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Hilo than in Kansas City?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $39,000 a year in Hilo versus $41,000 in Kansas City.
Which has lower taxes, Hilo or Kansas City?
Hilo is taxed under Hawaii's rules (a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax); Kansas City under Missouri's (a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% 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).