Is it cheaper to live in Hilo or Santa Fe?

Santa Fe, NM is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,310 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 15% 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 Santa Fe?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $39,000 a year in Hilo versus $47,000 in Santa Fe.

Which has lower taxes, Hilo or Santa Fe?

Hilo is taxed under Hawaii's rules (a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax); Santa Fe under New Mexico's (a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax).

Hilo vs Santa Fe Cost of Living 2026

Hilo

Hawaii

$1,550/mo est.

Santa Fe

New Mexico

$1,310/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 $1,310 in Santa Fe, NM. Overall, Santa Fe, NM is roughly 15% 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 $70,110 in Santa Fe, NM — about 11% higher in Hilo, HI. Hawaii has a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax; New Mexico has a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax.

Hilo, HI

Santa Fe, NM

Rent

Studio

$1,180

$969

+18% in Hilo, HI

1 Bedroom

$964

$1,167

+21% in Santa Fe, NM

2 Bedroom

$1,283

$1,559

+22% in Santa Fe, NM

3 Bedroom

$1,587

$1,733

+9% in Santa Fe, NM

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$455,100

$411,500

+10% in Hilo, HI

Income

Median Household Income

$78,713

$70,110

+11% in Hilo, HI

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,820

$48,710

+6% in Hilo, HI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

42.6 yr

46.4 yr

+3.8 yr in Santa Fe, NM

Homeownership

65.5%

62.8%

+2.7 pp in Hilo, HI

Bachelor's+ (25+)

34.0%

45.4%

+11.4 pp in Santa Fe, NM

Avg Commute

20.1 min

20.2 min

+0.1 min in Santa Fe, NM

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

245.4

843.3

+244% in Santa Fe, NM

Property Crime

2,043.9

5,189

+154% in Santa Fe, NM

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

51.9°F

+22.0°F in Hilo, HI

Annual Precipitation

126.7 in

13.5 in

+113.2 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).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

52.0

14.1

+73% in Hilo, HI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$70.84

$11.90

+83% in Hilo, HI

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

about equal

Bread (lb)

$2.04

about equal

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

about equal

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

about equal

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (HI / NM)

4.875%

+0.9 pp in NM

Income Tax (top rate)

11.00%

5.90%

+5.1 pp in HI

Hilo vs Santa Fe — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Hilo or Santa Fe?: Santa Fe, NM is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,310 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 15% 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 Santa Fe?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $39,000 a year in Hilo versus $47,000 in Santa Fe.
Which has lower taxes, Hilo or Santa Fe?: Hilo is taxed under Hawaii's rules (a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax); Santa Fe under New Mexico's (a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% 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).