Cost of Living in Hilo, HI
Updated November 2026 · Hawaii County · Hilo-Kailua, HI micropolitan area · population 50,404
Prices in Hilo are 3.8% above the US average (local index 103.8; the BEA index for nonmetropolitan Hawaii is 106.4), with utilities the biggest cost driver at 203.4; a single adult's modelled budget is about $2,804 a month and the median rent is $1,427.
Prices by category
CostLiving local estimate. 100 = US average; 110 means prices are 10% higher. Housing reflects Hilo's own median rent compared with the area's average rent; goods, utilities and other services are BEA's official price parities for nonmetropolitan Hawaii, unchanged.
Hilo price index by category, US average = 100: All items 103.8, Housing (rents) 89.4, Goods 111.6, Utilities 203.4, Other services 102.9
More expensive than 56% of the cities we cover.
| BEA index | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 108.0 | 104.9 | 107.6 | 105.2 | 104.7 | 106.4 |
Monthly budget by household type
1 adult · 1-bedroom · modelled estimate for Hilo, HI
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $797 | $9,564 | 28% |
| Utilities | $479 | $5,748 | 17% |
| Food at home | $315 | $3,780 | 11% |
| Transportation | $669 | $8,028 | 24% |
| Health care | $362 | $4,344 | 13% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $182 | $2,184 | 6% |
| Total | $2,804 | $33,648 | 100% |
2 adults · 2-bedroom · modelled estimate for Hilo, HI
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $1,110 | $13,320 | 23% |
| Utilities | $767 | $9,204 | 16% |
| Food at home | $581 | $6,972 | 12% |
| Transportation | $1,323 | $15,876 | 27% |
| Health care | $670 | $8,040 | 14% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $360 | $4,320 | 7% |
| Total | $4,811 | $57,732 | 100% |
2 adults + 2 children · 3-bedroom · modelled estimate for Hilo, HI
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $1,488 | $17,856 | 24% |
| Utilities | $933 | $11,196 | 15% |
| Food at home | $829 | $9,948 | 14% |
| Transportation | $1,763 | $21,156 | 29% |
| Health care | $625 | $7,500 | 10% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $465 | $5,580 | 8% |
| Total | $6,103 | $73,236 | 100% |
Modelled estimate of basic costs, excluding taxes, child care and savings. Housing is rent excluding tenant-paid utilities (counted under utilities). See how the budget is calculated.
Housing costs in Hilo
Rent by number of bedrooms
| Size | Median rent |
|---|---|
| Studio | $1,139 |
| 1 bedroom | $946 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,318 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,767 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,724 |
Median rent: Census ACS 2020-2024 median gross rent by bedrooms (rent plus tenant-paid utilities, all renters).
Rent, home values and affordability
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,427 |
| Median contract rent (excl. utilities) | $1,202 |
| Median home value | $483,000 |
| Owner costs with a mortgage | $2,060/mo |
| Median household income | $81,779 |
| Rent as % of renter income Expensive | 31.6% |
| Home value ÷ household income Expensive | 5.9× |
Census ACS 5-year 2020-2024.
Electricity and gas prices
Residential electricity in Hawaii
47.18¢ per kWh, August 2026
12-month change: +22.5% (from 38.53¢) · US 18.16¢
Average household uses 514 kWh a month in Hawaii ≈ $228/month. Source: EIA-861M (statewide average).
Regular gasoline regional figure: West Coast excl. California (PADD 5)
$4.77 per gallon, week of 2026-11-02
12-month change: +25.9% (from $3.79) · US $4.15
EIA weekly retail price survey; Hawaii is covered by the West Coast excl. California (PADD 5) average.
Inflation in the West
Consumer prices in the West Census region rose +3.4% in the 12 months to September 2026 (US +3.7%). Nationally, food at home changed +1.8%, shelter +3.2% and energy +20.4%. Source: BLS CPI-U, not seasonally adjusted. CPI is published for regions and large metro areas, so the regional figure is shown.
Salary equivalent
Because prices in Hilo are 3.8% above the US average, $60,000 here has the buying power of about $57,800 in an average-priced US area.
Formula: US-equivalent = salary × 100 ÷ 103.8. Based on the local cost index (CostLiving estimate from BEA RPP and Census rents); taxes not included.
Nearby cities
| City | Distance | Index | Budget (single) | Median rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kailua-Kona, HI | 60 mi | 107.5 | $3,437 | $1,754 |
Cities with a similar cost of living
| City | Index | Budget (single) | Median rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| DeSoto, TX | 103.8 | $2,825 | $1,666 |
| Salem, OR | 103.8 | $2,693 | $1,400 |
| Beaumont, CA | 103.8 | $3,086 | $1,681 |
| Levittown, PA | 103.7 | $3,105 | $1,556 |
| Lewisville, TX | 103.8 | $2,962 | $1,670 |
| South Lake Tahoe, CA | 103.9 | $3,063 | $1,606 |
Compare Hilo with another city
Frequently asked questions
Is Hilo, HI an expensive place to live?
Hilo has a local cost of living index of 103.8, which is 3.8% above the US average. This CostLiving estimate starts from the BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 for nonmetropolitan Hawaii (106.4) and adjusts housing to Hilo's own rents. It is 6.2 points below the Hawaii average. More expensive than 56% of the cities we cover.
How much money do you need to live in Hilo?
Our modelled estimate of basic monthly costs is $2,804 for a single adult, $4,811 for a couple and $6,103 for a family of four, before taxes, child care and savings. A $60,000 salary in an average-priced US area buys about the same as $62,300 in Hilo.
What is the average rent in Hilo?
The median gross rent (rent plus tenant-paid utilities) is $1,427 a month (Census ACS 2020-2024). By size: 1 bedroom $946, 2 bedrooms $1,318, 3 bedrooms $1,767. The typical renter spends 31.6% of household income on rent (expensive).
How much does a house cost in Hilo?
The median owner-estimated home value is $483,000, 5.9 times the median household income of $81,779 (expensive). Owners with a mortgage pay a median $2,060 a month in housing costs.
How much is electricity and gas in Hilo?
Hawaii residential electricity averaged 47.18¢ per kWh in August 2026 (US 18.16¢). Regular gasoline was $4.77 a gallon (West Coast excl. California (PADD 5) average, week of 2026-11-02).
Sources and notes
- Local cost index: CostLiving estimate from BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 for Hawaii nonmetropolitan portion (BEA index 106.4) with housing from Census ACS median rent (city figure); see the methodology.
- Rents, home values, income, population: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year 2020-2024, Census place 1514650 (Hilo CDP).
- Electricity: EIA-861M, Hawaii residential average, August 2026.
- Gasoline: EIA weekly retail regular gasoline, West Coast excl. California (PADD 5), week of 2026-11-02.
- Inflation: BLS CPI-U West region, September 2026.
- Budget baselines: BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey 2025; electricity use by household size: EIA RECS 2020.
- BEA area index: state nonmetro figure (in a micropolitan area; BEA publishes RPPs only for metro areas).
- Gasoline price: regional figure (EIA publishes weekly prices for only 9 states).
Labels such as “county figure” or “state nonmetro figure” mark values that come from a larger area because the city-level figure is unavailable or unreliable. The monthly budget is a modelled estimate, not observed spending, and excludes taxes. This page is for general information and is not financial advice. Methodology · All sources