Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Independence, MO: $2,126 a month against $2,898 in Hillsboro, OR, rent and utilities included – about $9,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Hillsboro, OR, United States
Independence, MO, United States
Hillsboro, OR
🇺🇸 United States
$2,898
/mo nomad
Independence, MO
🇺🇸 United States
$2,126
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Hillsboro, OR and in Independence, MO

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Hillsboro, OR and in Independence, MO actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,898 per month in Hillsboro, OR vs $2,126 in Independence, MO, rent included.

  • Hillsboro, OR $2,898
  • Independence, MO $2,126

A couple spends around $3,926 per month in Hillsboro, OR vs $3,078 in Independence, MO, rent included.

  • Hillsboro, OR $3,926
  • Independence, MO $3,078

A family of three spends $4,954 per month in Hillsboro, OR vs $4,029 in Independence, MO, rent included.

  • Hillsboro, OR $4,954
  • Independence, MO $4,029

Hillsboro, OR costs about 36% more than Independence, MO, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Hillsboro, OR and Independence, MO sit above the global median – Hillsboro, OR by 113%, Independence, MO by 56%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hillsboro, OR
Independence, MO
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.12 $22.12
$20.16 $20.16
9.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.1 $61.1
$75.1 $75.1
-18.67%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.78 $7.78
$12.69 $12.69
-38.69%
Cappuccino
$4.75 $4.75
$5.06 $5.06
-6.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80 $2.80
$2.69 $2.69
4.09%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.02 $2.02
$1.97 $1.97
2.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.86 $4.86
$7.02 $7.02
-30.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.97 $5.97
$7.66 $7.66
-22.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hillsboro, OR
Independence, MO
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.05 $1.05
$1.09 $1.09
-3.67%
White Bread (500g)
$3.76 $3.76
$3.17 $3.17
18.61%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.41 $5.41
$4.41 $4.41
22.68%
Eggs
$3.81 $3.81
$4.35 $4.35
-12.41%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.02 $10.02
$11.15 $11.15
-10.13%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.82 $13.82
$9.53 $9.53
45.02%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.53 $19.53
$13.46 $13.46
45.10%
Apples (1kg)
$3.68 $3.68
$4.31 $4.31
-14.62%
Banana (1kg)
$1.69 $1.69
$1.55 $1.55
9.03%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.77 $3.77
$4.38 $4.38
-13.93%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.36 $3.36
$4.22 $4.22
-20.38%
Potato (1kg)
$2.17 $2.17
$3.18 $3.18
-31.76%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 $2.19
$3.00 $3.00
-27.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.00 $2.00
$1.90 $1.90
5.26%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.87 $1.87
$2.11 $2.11
-11.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.08 $10.08
$7.83 $7.83
28.74%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.57 $13.57
$15.06 $15.06
-9.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.78 $1.78
-3.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63 $3.63
$3.80 $3.80
-4.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Hillsboro, OR
Independence, MO
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.82 $2.82
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$99.5 $99.5
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.85 $4.85
$2.47 $2.47
96.36%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.34 $1.34
$1.22 $1.22
9.84%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.80 $29.80
$25.23 $25.23
18.11%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.15 $1.15
$1.03 $1.03
11.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.6K $18.6K
$32.7K $32.7K
-42.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.3K $22.3K
$25.6K $25.6K
-13.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hillsboro, OR
Independence, MO
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$151 $151
$255 $255
-40.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$41.00 $41.00
$63.9 $63.9
-35.87%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$48.47 $48.47
$72.5 $72.5
-33.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hillsboro, OR
Independence, MO
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.3 $52.3
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.10 $12.10
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.18 $14.18
$14.92 $14.92
-4.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hillsboro, OR
Independence, MO
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,208 $1,208
$1,037 $1,037
16.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.0K $12.0K
$19.3K $19.3K
-37.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hillsboro, OR
Independence, MO
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$38.21 $38.21
$57.7 $57.7
-33.81%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.70 $38.70
$39.80 $39.80
-2.76%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.1 $95.1
$96.3 $96.3
-1.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.9 $85.9
$124 $124
-30.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hillsboro, OR
Independence, MO
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,894 $1,894
$1,022 $1,022
85.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,639 $1,639
$861 $861
90.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,831 $2,831
$2,056 $2,056
37.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,154 $2,154
$1,311 $1,311
64.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,329 $3,329
$1,512 $1,512
120.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,328 $3,328
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hillsboro, OR
Independence, MO
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,697 $4,697
$3,423 $3,423
37.23%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.22
6.56
-5.18%

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

Last update for Hillsboro, OR: October 25, 2026

Last update for Independence, MO: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Hillsboro, OR
$1.6K
Independence, MO
$861 47.5% $778
Groceries & Markets
Hillsboro, OR
$387
Independence, MO
$364 6.1% $24
Eating Out
Hillsboro, OR
$313
Independence, MO
$329 5.2% $16
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hillsboro, OR
$240
Independence, MO
$391 62.6% $151
Getting Around
Hillsboro, OR
$122
Independence, MO
$8.6 * 93% $114
Clothing & Footwear
Hillsboro, OR
$116
Independence, MO
$143 23.3% $27
Sport & Entertainment
Hillsboro, OR
$81
Independence, MO
$30 * 63% $51

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,894 in Hillsboro, OR versus $1,022 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 37% higher in Hillsboro, OR. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $61 in Hillsboro, OR versus $75 in Independence, MO. Groceries tell a different story – $387 in Hillsboro, OR vs $364 in Independence, MO – so Independence, MO wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Hillsboro, OR
🇺🇸 Independence, MO
🕒 Local time
05:51 5:51 AM
07:51 7:51 AM
2 h ahead of Hillsboro, OR
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
106,447
117,213
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.896 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Hillsboro, OR Independence, MO 2,440 km ≈ 3 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Hillsboro, OR
  • Independence, MO

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Which city is more expensive, Hillsboro, OR or Independence, MO?
Hillsboro, OR costs about 36% more than Independence, MO, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from transport. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Hillsboro, OR and in Independence, MO?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,348 per month in Hillsboro, OR and $3,189 in Independence, MO. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Hillsboro, OR or Independence, MO?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Independence, MO, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,022 there versus $1,894 in Hillsboro, OR.
How much does it cost to live in Hillsboro, OR compared to Independence, MO?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,898 in Hillsboro, OR and $2,126 in Independence, MO. That makes Independence, MO about 27% cheaper.
How do childcare costs compare in Hillsboro, OR and in Independence, MO?
Kindergarten costs $1,208 per month in Hillsboro, OR and $1,037 in Independence, MO. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is better for families?
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.
Should I move to Hillsboro, OR or to Independence, MO?
If budget matters most, go with Independence, MO. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Hillsboro, OR makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Hillsboro, OR vs other spots: cost of living compared

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