Are you considering a move to Hilo, Hawaii, United States, and wondering about the cost of living? Hilo, Hawaii is a diverse city with a lot to offer, but like any city, it comes with its own set of expenses. In this page, we'll break down the cost of living in Hilo, Hawaii and help you understand whether $3878 per month is moderately priced, given the average monthly salary of $4766.67.
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Restaurants |
Price |
World Range |
|---|---|---|
|
Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant |
14.0 $ |
|
|
Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course |
49.0 $ |
|
|
McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) |
9.5 $ |
|
|
Domestic Beer (1 pint draught) |
4.75 $ |
|
|
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) |
6.0 $ |
|
|
Cappuccino (regular) |
6.55 $ |
|
|
Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle) |
3.5 $ |
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Water (12 oz small bottle) |
2.0 $ |
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Markets |
Price |
World Range |
|---|---|---|
|
Milk (regular), (1 gallon) |
1.91 $ |
|
|
Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb) |
6.94 $ |
|
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Rice (white), (1 lb) |
8.81 $ |
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|
Eggs (regular) (12) |
10.99 $ |
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Local Cheese (1 lb) |
13.22 $ |
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Chicken Fillets (1 lb) |
20.2 $ |
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Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) |
23.88 $ |
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Apples (1 lb) |
6.61 $ |
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Banana (1 lb) |
3.3 $ |
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Oranges (1 lb) |
9.92 $ |
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Tomato (1 lb) |
10.28 $ |
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|
Potato (1 lb) |
5.14 $ |
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Onion (1 lb) |
7.71 $ |
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Lettuce (1 head) |
4.5 $ |
|
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Water (1.5 liter bottle) |
2.67 $ |
|
|
Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) |
11.0 $ |
|
|
Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle) |
1.73 $ |
|
|
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) |
-- |
|
|
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro) |
11.0 $ |
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Transportation |
Price |
World Range |
|---|---|---|
|
One-way Ticket (Local Transport) |
2.0 $ |
|
|
Monthly Pass (Regular Price) |
30.0 $ |
|
|
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff) |
3.25 $ |
|
|
Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff) |
1.71 $ |
|
|
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff) |
-- |
|
|
Gasoline (1 gallon) |
1.3 $ |
|
|
Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car) |
30000.0 $ |
|
|
Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car) |
34000.0 $ |
|
|
Utilities (Monthly) |
Price |
World Range |
|---|---|---|
|
Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment |
280.95 $ |
|
|
1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local (No Discounts or Plans) |
-- |
|
|
Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) |
70.75 $ |
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|
Sports And Leisure |
Price |
World Range |
|---|---|---|
|
Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult |
-- |
|
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Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend) |
-- |
|
|
Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat |
12.0 $ |
|
|
Childcare |
Price |
World Range |
|---|---|---|
|
Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child |
-- |
|
|
International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child |
7000.0 $ |
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|
Clothing And Shoes |
Price |
World Range |
|---|---|---|
|
1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar) |
38.33 $ |
|
|
1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...) |
10.0 $ |
|
|
1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) |
88.5 $ |
|
|
1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes |
35.0 $ |
|
|
Rent Per Month |
Price |
World Range |
|---|---|---|
|
Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre |
1500.0 $ |
|
|
Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre |
1200.0 $ |
|
|
Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre |
2266.67 $ |
|
|
Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre |
1600.0 $ |
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|
Buy Apartment Price |
Price |
World Range |
|---|---|---|
|
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre |
3552.09 $ |
|
|
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre |
2576.16 $ |
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Salaries And Financing |
Price |
World Range |
|---|---|---|
|
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) |
4766.67 $ |
|
|
Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate |
6.13 % |
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The monthly expenses for living in Hilo, Hawaii come to a total of approximately $3878. This includes an average monthly rent of around $1500 for a one-bedroom apartment in the city center, along with utilities costing about $316 per month. Additionally, other expenses such as groceries, transportation, dining out, and leisure activities for one person amount to approximately $1495 per month.
Living in Hilo, Hawaii appears to be relatively budget-friendly when considering the average monthly income of $4766.67. However, to enjoy a comfortable standard of living in Hilo, Hawaii, you would likely need an income exceeding $4766.67.
In Hilo, Hawaii, the average monthly post-tax salary hovers around $4766.67, and it isn't tied to any particular skillset or qualification.
The typical monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the central area of Hilo, Hawaii is approximately $1500. If you're open to living in a location outside the city center, you can expect to pay around $1200.0 for such an apartment.
The expense for groceries in Hilo, Hawaii can fluctuate based on personal choices and shopping patterns. Typically, an individual can budget around $1324 per month for groceries. Nevertheless, the actual costs may change depending on various factors, including the specific items bought, the choice of stores, and the availability of discounts or special offers.
The cost of living in United States can vary significantly depending on the particular city you have in mind. Using a nationwide average might not provide accurate information. To get a more precise understanding, it's crucial to examine the cost of living in various cities throughout United States.
There's a medium risk in Hilo due to additional weather challenges, higher crime rates, and a few more risks than the typical tourist adventures. The entire island is policed by the Hawaii Police Department and the Hilo districts are split into North Hilo and South Hilo, with the city of Hilo being in the south district.
There's a bus service in the county that is more built toward practical travel than tourist satisfaction. You can get a taxi or an Uber. Ideally, you can get your own car to explore here or you might not get to see the wide variety of amenities on the Big Island. It's going to get a little boring to be in rainy Hilo all the time and you'll miss some amazing wonders if you do so.
Theft rates are higher than the Hawaiian average here, so you should use extra caution with any bag, fanny pack, or wallet you carry with you. There is more of a drug problem on this side of the island, which could lead to more crime. If any city is going to get a medium risk for this in Hawaii, it's Hilo.
Hilo has twice seen the deadly brunt of a tsunami, once in 1946 and again in 1960. The Doomsday Clock is actually stuck at the time the tsunami hit in 1960. You should take any and all tsunami warnings seriously and make sure you know if you are in a tsunami danger zone. You also face the risk of flash flooding, earthquakes, and volcano eruptions as the only active volcano in Hawaii is on the Big Island. While on an average day, the weather will be quite consistent, these big risks do exist and you should study them before you arrive.
There's a low risk, but it's important to remember this is a higher crime area than the west (leeward) side of the island. Stay in groups when possible and don't wander around at night.
There's a medium risk because of the remote location that holds a lot of military power for the United States. The Pearl Harbor attack and the resulting memorial in Hawaii show just how vulnerable of a location this can be. You can learn about terrorism safety and homeland security on the Hawaii island website.
There's a medium risk of getting scammed started when you book the hotel. There is just an overwhelming amount of information about hotels and rental homes online. You need to first make sure you're booking with a valid and registered website or vendor. Working with a local travel agent is a great way to make sure you're getting a legitimate and insured trip. When you arrive, watch out for scams that seem to promise a "unique" experience. Scammers hope that tourists will believe anything they hear and will hand over money. Your hotel concierge or travel agent can help you sort the scam excursions from the real ones. One thing that isn't a scam? Food prices. Breakfast for four people can run $100. Groceries are expensive here too because most food travels across the ocean to get here.
Women should proceed with caution, but shouldn't avoid Hilo. It's great to travel in pairs or in a group of women if you can or be more inclined to take a group tour than go solo. Tourists are welcome in this part of Hawaii, but there just isn't as much catering to the tourists as you will find on the west and south sides of the island.
The water on the Big Island comes from a variety of different sources and there are a dozen water quality reports to review for each section. There are no outstanding tap water concerns in any area, but you can review the annual report at any time on the county's website. The water in Hawaii might taste a little different than you are used to. Some people opt only to use bottled water just to get a "normal" taste.
A big annoyance of Hawaiians is that people from the mainland don't treat Hawaii as part of the United States (which it is). If you are American, you do not need a passport or Visa to visit Hawaii, as much as you wouldn't need one to visit Iowa. Non-residents need a Visa to get through the airport where Border Patrol and Homeland Security will review the Visa. It's important to note the Visa doesn't guarantee access, but unless you're on a watch list or wanted by officials, you'll get through just fine in most cases.
You can only use the U.S. Dollar here. Try to spread out the cash you bring throughout your pockets and even in your sock. This will prevent you from bringing out a large amount of money when shopping in the villages. While most places take credit cards, having some walking around money isn't a bad idea. You just have to protect your cash and not keep it in one place.
You definitely need all kinds of rain gear here. We talked about that. The temperature is pretty standard throughout the year, with the seasons being more evident in the movement of the ocean than in the temperature. You'll want to bring long-sleeved shirts and long pants that are lightweight to protect against the plants, rocks, and mosquitoes on a hike.
The Hilo airport is one of the only international airports on the islands, but the Honolulu airport is the busiest. HNL is on the island of Oahu, so if you fly there you'll need a connecting flight to get to the Big Island of Hawaii.
With all the warnings we went through in this article, and believe me, when I say we haven't even scratched the surface, it's a great idea to have travel insurance, and make sure you know how much your health insurance covers accidents while traveling.
| Average | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High | 79°F | 79°F | 78°F | 79°F | 80°F | 82°F | 82°F | 83°F | 83°F | 82°F | 80°F | 79°F |
| Temp | 70°F | 70°F | 71°F | 71°F | 73°F | 74°F | 75°F | 76°F | 75°F | 75°F | 73°F | 71°F |
| Low | 64°F | 64°F | 65°F | 66°F | 67°F | 68°F | 69°F | 70°F | 69°F | 69°F | 67°F | 66°F |
| Average | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High | 26°C | 26°C | 25°C | 26°C | 26°C | 27°C | 27°C | 28°C | 28°C | 27°C | 26°C | 26°C |
| Temp | 21°C | 21°C | 21°C | 21°C | 22°C | 23°C | 23°C | 24°C | 23°C | 23°C | 22°C | 21°C |
| Low | 17°C | 17°C | 18°C | 18°C | 19°C | 20°C | 20°C | 21°C | 20°C | 20°C | 19°C | 18°C |