Cost of Living Comparison Between Hillsboro, OR and Independence, MO Cost of Living Comparison Between Hillsboro, OR and Independence, MO

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,507 per month in Hillsboro, OR vs $2,138 in Independence, MO, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,612 per month in Hillsboro, OR vs $3,126 in Independence, MO, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,717 per month in Hillsboro, OR vs $4,115 in Independence, MO, rent included.

Hillsboro, OR costs about 17% more than Independence, MO, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Hillsboro, OR and Independence, MO sit above the global median – Hillsboro, OR by 87%, Independence, MO by 60%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.70 $18.70

$20.15 $20.15

-7.20%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59.8 $59.8

$75.1 $75.1

-20.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.98 $9.98

$11.67 $11.67

-14.48%

Cappuccino

$4.21 $4.21

$5.09 $5.09

-17.29%

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

$2.59 $2.59

$2.96 $2.96

-12.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.07 $2.07

$1.93 $1.93

7.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.89 $4.89

$6.15 $6.15

-20.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.11 $6.11

$7.05 $7.05

-13.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.02 $1.02

$1.16 $1.16

-12.07%

White Bread (500g)

$3.77 $3.77

$3.43 $3.43

9.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$7.22 $7.22

$4.49 $4.49

60.80%

Eggs

$4.13 $4.13

$3.54 $3.54

16.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.04 $13.04

$11.80 $11.80

10.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.35 $11.35

$10.50 $10.50

8.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.56 $19.56

$12.85 $12.85

52.22%

Apples (1kg)

$4.21 $4.21

$4.42 $4.42

-4.75%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 $1.50

$1.51 $1.51

-0.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.79 $3.79

$5.87 $5.87

-35.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.66 $3.66

$6.48 $6.48

-43.52%

Potato (1kg)

$2.11 $2.11

$2.59 $2.59

-18.53%

Onion (1kg)

$2.01 $2.01

$3.64 $3.64

-44.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.08 $2.08

$1.98 $1.98

5.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 $1.70

$2.58 $2.58

-34.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.36 $9.36

$8.64 $8.64

8.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.61 $13.61

$15.28 $15.28

-10.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.73 $1.73

-1.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.53 $1.53

$4.48 $4.48

-65.85%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.71 $2.71

$1.95 $1.95

38.97%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$101 $101

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.58 $3.58

$2.95 $2.95

21.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.67 $1.67

$1.53 $1.53

9.15%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.56 $29.56

$20.80 $20.80

42.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.02 $1.02

$0.81 $0.81

25.93%

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

$22.9K $22.9K

$35.1K $35.1K

-34.59%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$26.7K $26.7K

-3.22%

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

$127 $127

$252 $252

-49.63%

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

$42.38 $42.38

$53.1 $53.1

-20.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$48.65 $48.65

$67.7 $67.7

-28.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.19 $30.19

$42.69 $42.69

-29.28%

Cinema Ticket

$12.20 $12.20

$13.95 $13.95

-12.54%

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

$1,503 $1,503

$925 $925

62.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.0K $12.0K

$24.3K $24.3K

-50.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.25 $47.25

$53.5 $53.5

-11.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.30 $25.30

$38.65 $38.65

-34.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.9 $95.9

$95.5 $95.5

0.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.3 $78.3

$112 $112

-29.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,868 $1,868

$1,001 $1,001

86.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,315 $1,315

$834 $834

57.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,683 $2,683

$2,314 $2,314

15.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,996 $1,996

$1,302 $1,302

53.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,419 $3,419

$1,513 $1,513

125.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,373 $3,373

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,686 $4,686

$3,487 $3,487

34.40%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.5

-0.77%

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

Last update for Hillsboro, OR: May 31, 2026

Last update for Independence, MO: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,868 in Hillsboro, OR versus $1,001 in Independence, MO. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 34% higher in Hillsboro, OR, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $60.0 in Hillsboro, OR versus $75.0 in Independence, MO. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $389 vs $394 – making Hillsboro, OR the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Hillsboro, OR vs Independence, MO: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Hillsboro, OR costs about 17% more than Independence, MO, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,761 per month in Hillsboro, OR and $3,207 in Independence, MO. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Independence, MO, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,507 in Hillsboro, OR and $2,138 in Independence, MO. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,503 per month in Hillsboro, OR and $925 in Independence, MO. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Independence, MO, where all-in costs run around $2,138, than in Hillsboro, OR at $2,507. In Independence, MO it covers expenses comfortably, while in Hillsboro, OR it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Independence, MO – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Independence, MO. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Hillsboro, OR makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.