Is it cheaper to live in Hilo or St. Louis?

St. Louis, MO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 34% 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 St. Louis?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $39,000 a year in Hilo versus $35,000 in St. Louis.

Which has lower taxes, Hilo or St. Louis?

Hilo is taxed under Hawaii's rules (a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax); St. Louis under Missouri's (a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax).

Hilo vs St. Louis Cost of Living 2026

Hilo

Hawaii

$1,550/mo est.

St. Louis

Missouri

$1,030/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 $1,030 in St. Louis, MO. Overall, St. Louis, MO is roughly 34% 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 $55,279 in St. Louis, MO — about 30% 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

St. Louis, MO

Rent

Studio

$1,180

$864

+27% in Hilo, HI

1 Bedroom

$964

$866

+10% in Hilo, HI

2 Bedroom

$1,283

$1,109

+14% in Hilo, HI

3 Bedroom

$1,587

$1,135

+28% in Hilo, HI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$455,100

$185,100

+59% in Hilo, HI

Income

Median Household Income

$78,713

$55,279

+30% in Hilo, HI

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,820

$49,990

+4% in Hilo, HI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

42.6 yr

36.6 yr

+6.0 yr in Hilo, HI

Homeownership

65.5%

45.4%

+20.1 pp in Hilo, HI

Bachelor's+ (25+)

34.0%

40.2%

+6.2 pp in St. Louis, MO

Avg Commute

20.1 min

22.2 min

+2.1 min in St. Louis, MO

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

245.4

1,372.9

+459% in St. Louis, MO

Property Crime

2,043.9

5,794.9

+184% in St. Louis, 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

55.7°F

+18.2°F in Hilo, HI

Annual Precipitation

126.7 in

40.9 in

+85.8 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).

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 St. Louis, MO

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.77

+8% in Hilo, HI

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$2.10

+4% in St. Louis, 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)

4.225%

+0.2 pp in MO

Income Tax (top rate)

11.00%

4.70%

+6.3 pp in HI

Hilo vs St. Louis — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Hilo or St. Louis?: St. Louis, MO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 34% 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 St. Louis?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $39,000 a year in Hilo versus $35,000 in St. Louis.
Which has lower taxes, Hilo or St. Louis?: Hilo is taxed under Hawaii's rules (a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax); St. Louis 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).