Cost of Living Comparison Between Baltimore, MD and Hilo, HI Cost of Living Comparison Between Baltimore, MD and Hilo, HI

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,733 in Baltimore, MD versus $2,719 in Hilo, HI.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,001 in Baltimore, MD versus $3,816 in Hilo, HI.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,268 in Baltimore, MD versus $4,914 in Hilo, HI.

Living in Baltimore, MD is roughly 1% more expensive than Hilo, HI, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Baltimore, MD 104% above, Hilo, HI 103% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.24 $20.24

$16.82 $16.82

20.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$81.2 $81.2

$78.2 $78.2

3.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.05 $10.05

$11.16 $11.16

-9.95%

Cappuccino

$5.14 $5.14

$8.12 $8.12

-36.70%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 $2.38

$2.26 $2.26

5.31%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 $2.22

$2.28 $2.28

-2.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.12 $6.12

$5.98 $5.98

2.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.58 $7.58

$5.86 $5.86

29.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.79 $1.79

-41.34%

White Bread (500g)

$3.85 $3.85

$7.61 $7.61

-49.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.52 $4.52

$6.29 $6.29

-28.14%

Eggs

$4.39 $4.39

$8.51 $8.51

-48.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.53 $13.53

$13.35 $13.35

1.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.22 $10.22

$14.89 $14.89

-31.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.36 $16.36

$23.55 $23.55

-30.53%

Apples (1kg)

$6.92 $6.92

$5.70 $5.70

21.40%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 $1.56

$2.64 $2.64

-40.91%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.09 $7.09

$9.75 $9.75

-27.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.31 $5.31

$11.20 $11.20

-52.59%

Potato (1kg)

$2.71 $2.71

$5.03 $5.03

-46.12%

Onion (1kg)

$3.02 $3.02

$7.64 $7.64

-60.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.46 $2.46

$4.89 $4.89

-49.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.65 $2.65

$2.62 $2.62

1.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.68 $12.68

$13.52 $13.52

-6.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.90 $14.90

$14.73 $14.73

1.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.27 $2.27

$1.76 $1.76

28.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.06 $4.06

$3.44 $3.44

18.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.56 $2.56

$1.95 $1.95

31.28%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$78.4 $78.4

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.76 $1.76

$3.77 $3.77

-53.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 $1.35

$1.18 $1.18

14.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.23 $24.23

$28.63 $28.63

-15.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 $0.86

$1.19 $1.19

-27.73%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$25.5K $25.5K

$23.2K $23.2K

9.90%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.2K $26.2K

$24.7K $24.7K

5.87%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$171 $171

$284 $284

-39.70%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$55.8 $55.8

$41.54 $41.54

34.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$79.2 $79.2

$52.8 $52.8

50.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.5 $56.5

$49.91 $49.91

13.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.75 $29.75

Cinema Ticket

$15.11 $15.11

$12.49 $12.49

20.98%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,253 $1,253

$1,277 $1,277

-1.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$33.9K $33.9K

$23.3K $23.3K

45.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.0 $51.0

$38.87 $38.87

31.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$72.9 $72.9

$10.18 $10.18

616.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.7 $85.7

$78.3 $78.3

9.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 $109

$78.6 $78.6

39.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,848 $1,848

$1,663 $1,663

11.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,314 $1,314

$1,208 $1,208

8.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,303 $3,303

$2,306 $2,306

43.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,205 $2,205

$1,599 $1,599

37.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,517 $2,517

$5,324 $5,324

-52.73%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,279 $2,279

$5,374 $5,374

-57.58%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,208 $4,208

$4,514 $4,514

-6.78%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.59

6.32

4.27%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Baltimore, MD: April 21, 2026

Last update for Hilo, HI: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,848 in Baltimore, MD and $1,663 in Hilo, HI. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Hilo, HI pays 7% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $81 in Baltimore, MD vs $78 in Hilo, HI. Groceries flip the comparison at $429 vs $604, with Baltimore, MD cheaper for home cooking.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Baltimore, MD vs Hilo, HI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Hilo, HI wins on cost – living expenses run 1% lower than in Baltimore, MD. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Hilo, HI the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Hilo, HI earns 7% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,848 in Baltimore, MD versus $1,663 in Hilo, HI. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Baltimore, MD pay roughly 41% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $2,733 per month in Baltimore, MD versus $2,719 in Hilo, HI – a 1% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Hilo, HI is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Baltimore, MD and Hilo, HI are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Hilo, HI gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Baltimore, MD. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.