Living Cost Compare
Hilo

Hawaii

$1,550/mo est.

vs
Washington

District of Columbia

$2,150/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 $2,150 in Washington, DC. Overall, Hilo, HI is roughly 28% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Washington, DC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $78,713 in Hilo, HI and $106,287 in Washington, DC — about 26% higher in Washington, DC. Hawaii has a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax; District of Columbia has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Hilo, HI
Washington, DC

Rent

Studio
$1,180
$1,763
+49% in Washington, DC
1 Bedroom
$964
$1,885
+96% in Washington, DC
2 Bedroom
$1,283
$1,949
+52% in Washington, DC
3 Bedroom
$1,587
$2,249
+42% in Washington, DC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$455,100
$724,600
+59% in Washington, DC

Income

Median Household Income
$78,713
$106,287
+35% in Washington, DC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,820
$71,060
+37% in Washington, DC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
42.6 yr
34.9 yr
+7.7 yr in Hilo, HI
Homeownership
65.5%
41.1%
+24.4 pp in Hilo, HI
Bachelor's+ (25+)
34.0%
63.6%
+29.6 pp in Washington, DC
Avg Commute
20.1 min
30.3 min
+10.2 min in Washington, DC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
245.4
936.3
+282% in Washington, DC
Property Crime
2,043.9
3,627.9
+77% in Washington, DC

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
58.2°F
+15.7°F in Hilo, HI
Annual Precipitation
126.7 in
39.7 in
+87.0 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)
—
$2.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
52.0
25.4
+51% in Hilo, HI
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$70.84
$22.01
+69% 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 Washington, DC
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 / DC)
4%
6%
+2.0 pp in DC
Income Tax (top rate)
11.00%
10.75%
+0.3 pp in HI

Hilo vs Washington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Hilo or Washington?
Hilo, HI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,550 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 28% below Washington, DC's $2,150, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Hilo than in Washington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $39,000 a year in Hilo versus $75,000 in Washington.
Which has lower taxes, Hilo or Washington?
Hilo is taxed under Hawaii's rules (a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax); Washington under District of Columbia's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6% 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).