Living Cost Compare
Hilo

Hawaii

$1,550/mo est.

vs
New Orleans

Louisiana

$1,170/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 $1,170 in New Orleans, LA. Overall, New Orleans, LA is roughly 25% 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 $55,339 in New Orleans, LA — about 30% higher in Hilo, HI. Hawaii has a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax; Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax.

Hilo, HI
New Orleans, LA

Rent

Studio
$1,180
$953
+19% in Hilo, HI
1 Bedroom
$964
$1,019
+6% in New Orleans, LA
2 Bedroom
$1,283
$1,287
+0% in New Orleans, LA
3 Bedroom
$1,587
$1,392
+12% in Hilo, HI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$455,100
$296,400
+35% in Hilo, HI

Income

Median Household Income
$78,713
$55,339
+30% in Hilo, HI
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,820
$47,290
+9% in Hilo, HI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
42.6 yr
38.4 yr
+4.2 yr in Hilo, HI
Homeownership
65.5%
50.5%
+15.0 pp in Hilo, HI
Bachelor's+ (25+)
34.0%
42.0%
+8.0 pp in New Orleans, LA
Avg Commute
20.1 min
22.7 min
+2.6 min in New Orleans, LA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
245.4
1,361.1
+455% in New Orleans, LA
Property Crime
2,043.9
5,089.6
+149% in New Orleans, LA

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
70.6°F
+3.3°F in Hilo, HI
Annual Precipitation
126.7 in
62.3 in
+64.4 in in Hilo, HI

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.09/gal
$3.62/gal
+29% in Hilo, HI

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$1.25

Adult base one-way fare — — vs New Orleans RTA (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
52.0
14.2
+73% in Hilo, HI
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$70.84
$16.62
+77% in Hilo, HI

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.00
+17% in Hilo, HI
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$1.75
+14% in Hilo, HI
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.21
+1% in New Orleans, LA
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.45
+12% in Hilo, HI
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$1.90
+6% in Hilo, HI
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.62
+12% in Hilo, HI

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (HI / LA)
4%
5%
+1.0 pp in LA
Income Tax (top rate)
11.00%
3.00%
+8.0 pp in HI

Hilo vs New Orleans — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Hilo or New Orleans?
New Orleans, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,170 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 25% 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 New Orleans?
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 New Orleans.
Which has lower taxes, Hilo or New Orleans?
Hilo is taxed under Hawaii's rules (a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax); New Orleans under Louisiana's (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% 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).