Is it cheaper to live in Hilo or New Haven?

New Haven, CT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,530 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Hilo, HI's $1,550, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $39,000 a year in Hilo versus $51,000 in New Haven.

Which has lower taxes, Hilo or New Haven?

Hilo is taxed under Hawaii's rules (a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax); New Haven under Connecticut's (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax).

Hilo vs New Haven Cost of Living 2026

Hilo

Hawaii

$1,550/mo est.

New Haven

Connecticut

$1,530/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 $1,530 in New Haven, CT. Overall, New Haven, CT is roughly 1% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Hilo, HI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $78,713 in Hilo, HI and $53,771 in New Haven, CT — about 32% higher in Hilo, HI. Hawaii has a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax; Connecticut has a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax.

Hilo, HI

New Haven, CT

Rent

Studio

$1,180

$1,159

+2% in Hilo, HI

1 Bedroom

$964

$1,275

+32% in New Haven, CT

2 Bedroom

$1,283

$1,473

+15% in New Haven, CT

3 Bedroom

$1,587

$1,636

+3% in New Haven, CT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$455,100

$249,000

+45% in Hilo, HI

Income

Median Household Income

$78,713

$53,771

+32% in Hilo, HI

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,820

$60,060

+16% in New Haven, CT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

42.6 yr

31.9 yr

+10.7 yr in Hilo, HI

Homeownership

65.5%

28.4%

+37.1 pp in Hilo, HI

Bachelor's+ (25+)

34.0%

37.7%

+3.7 pp in New Haven, CT

Avg Commute

20.1 min

21.0 min

+0.9 min in New Haven, CT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

245.4

536.3

+119% in New Haven, CT

Property Crime

2,043.9

3,601.6

+76% in New Haven, CT

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

52.2°F

+21.7°F in Hilo, HI

Annual Precipitation

126.7 in

47.1 in

+79.6 in in Hilo, HI

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$5.21/gal

$3.94/gal

+24% in Hilo, HI

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

52.7

24.3

+54% in Hilo, HI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$66.84

$23.33

+65% 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

$1.92

+6% in Hilo, HI

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.90

+6% in Hilo, HI

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$2.19

+9% in New Haven, CT

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.69

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (HI / CT)

6.35%

+2.3 pp in CT

Income Tax (top rate)

11.00%

6.99%

+4.0 pp in HI

Hilo vs New Haven — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Hilo or New Haven?: New Haven, CT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,530 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Hilo, HI's $1,550, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Hilo than in New Haven?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $39,000 a year in Hilo versus $51,000 in New Haven.
Which has lower taxes, Hilo or New Haven?: Hilo is taxed under Hawaii's rules (a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax); New Haven under Connecticut's (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% 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).