Living Cost Compare
Hilo

Hawaii

$1,550/mo est.

vs
Portland

Oregon

$1,620/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 $1,620 in Portland, OR. Overall, Hilo, HI is roughly 4% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Portland, OR, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $78,713 in Hilo, HI and $88,792 in Portland, OR — about 11% higher in Portland, OR. Hawaii has a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax; Oregon has a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax.

Hilo, HI
Portland, OR

Rent

Studio
$1,180
$1,294
+10% in Portland, OR
1 Bedroom
$964
$1,440
+49% in Portland, OR
2 Bedroom
$1,283
$1,741
+36% in Portland, OR
3 Bedroom
$1,587
$2,053
+29% in Portland, OR

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$455,100
$557,600
+23% in Portland, OR

Income

Median Household Income
$78,713
$88,792
+13% in Portland, OR
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,820
$60,690
+17% in Portland, OR

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
42.6 yr
38.6 yr
+4.0 yr in Hilo, HI
Homeownership
65.5%
52.8%
+12.7 pp in Hilo, HI
Bachelor's+ (25+)
34.0%
53.5%
+19.5 pp in Portland, OR
Avg Commute
20.1 min
24.6 min
+4.5 min in Portland, OR

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
245.4
732.3
+198% in Portland, OR
Property Crime
2,043.9
5,609.4
+174% in Portland, OR

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
54.5°F
+19.4°F in Hilo, HI
Annual Precipitation
126.7 in
42.9 in
+83.9 in in Hilo, HI

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.09/gal
$5.09/gal
about equal

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.80

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
52.0
16.3
+69% in Hilo, HI
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$70.84
$20.59
+71% in Hilo, HI

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.82
about equal
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$2.04
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$7.36
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$2.01
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.70
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (HI / OR)
4%
None
+4.0 pp in HI
Income Tax (top rate)
11.00%
9.90%
+1.1 pp in HI

Hilo vs Portland — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Hilo or Portland?
Hilo, HI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,550 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 4% below Portland, OR's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Hilo than in Portland?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $39,000 a year in Hilo versus $58,000 in Portland.
Which has lower taxes, Hilo or Portland?
Hilo is taxed under Hawaii's rules (a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax); Portland under Oregon's (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no 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).