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: $2,653 in Baltimore, MD versus $2,661 in Hilo, HI.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,041 in Baltimore, MD versus $3,781 in Hilo, HI.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,429 in Baltimore, MD versus $4,900 in Hilo, HI.

Monthly costs are close between Baltimore, MD and Hilo, HI; which city is cheaper depends on the spending category.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Baltimore, MD 98% above, Hilo, HI 99% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.62 $19.62

$17.34 $17.34

13.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.7 $80.7

$78.7 $78.7

2.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.14 $10.14

$11.04 $11.04

-8.15%

Cappuccino

$4.94 $4.94

$7.73 $7.73

-36.09%

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

$2.33 $2.33

$2.39 $2.39

-2.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.21 $2.21

$2.20 $2.20

0.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.92 $5.92

$5.89 $5.89

0.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.63 $7.63

$6.12 $6.12

24.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.80 $1.80

-41.67%

White Bread (500g)

$3.78 $3.78

$7.34 $7.34

-48.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.61 $4.61

$6.33 $6.33

-27.17%

Eggs

$4.45 $4.45

$8.74 $8.74

-49.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.28 $13.28

$13.07 $13.07

1.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.77 $9.77

$15.04 $15.04

-35.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.19 $16.19

$23.31 $23.31

-30.54%

Apples (1kg)

$6.83 $6.83

$6.04 $6.04

13.08%

Banana (1kg)

$1.58 $1.58

$2.73 $2.73

-42.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.06 $7.06

$10.16 $10.16

-30.51%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.27 $5.27

$10.96 $10.96

-51.92%

Potato (1kg)

$2.70 $2.70

$5.01 $5.01

-46.11%

Onion (1kg)

$3.03 $3.03

$7.91 $7.91

-61.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.41 $2.41

$4.63 $4.63

-47.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.77 $2.77

$2.61 $2.61

6.13%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.70 $12.70

$13.59 $13.59

-6.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.05 $15.05

$15.04 $15.04

0.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$1.77 $1.77

33.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.07 $4.07

$3.31 $3.31

22.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.98 $1.98

27.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.8 $75.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.78 $1.78

$3.64 $3.64

-51.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 $1.35

$1.18 $1.18

14.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$23.93 $23.93

$28.76 $28.76

-16.79%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 $0.90

$1.20 $1.20

-25.00%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$23.0K $23.0K

11.06%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$24.6K $24.6K

6.18%

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

$174 $174

$283 $283

-38.51%

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

$57.9 $57.9

$41.25 $41.25

40.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$80.1 $80.1

$54.3 $54.3

47.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.7 $56.7

$51.0 $51.0

11.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$30.13 $30.13

Cinema Ticket

$15.10 $15.10

$12.32 $12.32

22.56%

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

$1,299 $1,299

$1,300 $1,300

-0.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$34.0K $34.0K

$23.6K $23.6K

43.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.9 $50.9

$38.54 $38.54

31.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$73.6 $73.6

$10.05 $10.05

632.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.9 $84.9

$77.2 $77.2

9.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 $111

$77.6 $77.6

42.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,882 $1,882

$1,653 $1,653

13.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,328 $1,328

$1,207 $1,207

10.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,284 $3,284

$2,266 $2,266

44.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,274 $2,274

$1,603 $1,603

41.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,450 $2,450

$5,412 $5,412

-54.72%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,346 $2,346

$5,486 $5,486

-57.25%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,227 $4,227

$4,508 $4,508

-6.24%

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: June 2, 2026

Last update for Hilo, HI: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,882 in Baltimore, MD and $1,653 in Hilo, HI. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Hilo, HI pays 7% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $81.0 in Baltimore, MD vs $79.0 in Hilo, HI. Groceries flip the comparison at $427 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

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: $1,882 in Baltimore, MD versus $1,653 in Hilo, HI. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 41% higher in Hilo, HI. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Baltimore, MD – a meal for two runs $81.0 versus $79.0 in Hilo, HI. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Baltimore, MD 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.

It comes down to priorities – Baltimore, MD wins on affordability, Hilo, HI on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.