Is it cheaper to live in Hilo or Raleigh?

Raleigh, NC is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,510 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 3% below Hilo, HI's $1,550, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $39,000 a year in Hilo versus $53,000 in Raleigh.

Which has lower taxes, Hilo or Raleigh?

Hilo is taxed under Hawaii's rules (a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax); Raleigh under North Carolina's (a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax).

Hilo vs Raleigh Cost of Living 2026

Hilo

Hawaii

$1,550/mo est.

Raleigh

North Carolina

$1,510/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 $1,510 in Raleigh, NC. Overall, Raleigh, NC is roughly 3% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Hilo, HI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $78,713 in Hilo, HI and $82,424 in Raleigh, NC — about 5% higher in Raleigh, NC. Hawaii has a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax; North Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax.

Hilo, HI

Raleigh, NC

Rent

Studio

$1,180

$1,301

+10% in Raleigh, NC

1 Bedroom

$964

$1,323

+37% in Raleigh, NC

2 Bedroom

$1,283

$1,462

+14% in Raleigh, NC

3 Bedroom

$1,587

$1,715

+8% in Raleigh, NC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$455,100

$377,800

+17% in Hilo, HI

Income

Median Household Income

$78,713

$82,424

+5% in Raleigh, NC

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,820

$51,990

+0% in Raleigh, NC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

42.6 yr

34.7 yr

+7.9 yr in Hilo, HI

Homeownership

65.5%

51.2%

+14.3 pp in Hilo, HI

Bachelor's+ (25+)

34.0%

52.9%

+18.9 pp in Raleigh, NC

Avg Commute

20.1 min

23.4 min

+3.3 min in Raleigh, NC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

245.4

491.5

+100% in Raleigh, NC

Property Crime

2,043.9

2,838.4

+39% in Raleigh, NC

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

60.6°F

+13.3°F in Hilo, HI

Annual Precipitation

126.7 in

46.0 in

+80.7 in in Hilo, HI

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$5.09/gal

$3.86/gal

+24% in Hilo, HI

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$1.25

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

52.0

15.1

+71% in Hilo, HI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$70.84

$27.56

+61% 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 Raleigh, NC

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 / NC)

4.75%

+0.8 pp in NC

Income Tax (top rate)

11.00%

3.99%

+7.0 pp in HI

Hilo vs Raleigh — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Hilo or Raleigh?: Raleigh, NC is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,510 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 3% below Hilo, HI's $1,550, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Hilo than in Raleigh?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $39,000 a year in Hilo versus $53,000 in Raleigh.
Which has lower taxes, Hilo or Raleigh?: Hilo is taxed under Hawaii's rules (a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax); Raleigh under North Carolina's (a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% 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).