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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,661 in Hilo, HI versus $2,653 in Baltimore, MD.

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

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

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

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.34 $17.34

$19.62 $19.62

-11.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$78.7 $78.7

$80.7 $80.7

-2.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.04 $11.04

$10.14 $10.14

8.88%

Cappuccino

$7.73 $7.73

$4.94 $4.94

56.48%

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

$2.39 $2.39

$2.33 $2.33

2.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.20 $2.20

$2.21 $2.21

-0.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.89 $5.89

$5.92 $5.92

-0.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.12 $6.12

$7.63 $7.63

-19.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.80 $1.80

$1.05 $1.05

71.43%

White Bread (500g)

$7.34 $7.34

$3.78 $3.78

94.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.33 $6.33

$4.61 $4.61

37.31%

Eggs

$8.74 $8.74

$4.45 $4.45

96.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.07 $13.07

$13.28 $13.28

-1.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.04 $15.04

$9.77 $9.77

53.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.31 $23.31

$16.19 $16.19

43.98%

Apples (1kg)

$6.04 $6.04

$6.83 $6.83

-11.57%

Banana (1kg)

$2.73 $2.73

$1.58 $1.58

72.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$10.16 $10.16

$7.06 $7.06

43.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$10.96 $10.96

$5.27 $5.27

107.97%

Potato (1kg)

$5.01 $5.01

$2.70 $2.70

85.56%

Onion (1kg)

$7.91 $7.91

$3.03 $3.03

161.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$4.63 $4.63

$2.41 $2.41

92.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.61 $2.61

$2.77 $2.77

-5.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.59 $13.59

$12.70 $12.70

7.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.04 $15.04

$15.05 $15.05

-0.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 $1.77

$2.36 $2.36

-25.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.31 $3.31

$4.07 $4.07

-18.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.53 $2.53

-21.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.8 $75.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.64 $3.64

$1.78 $1.78

104.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.18 $1.18

$1.35 $1.35

-12.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.76 $28.76

$23.93 $23.93

20.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$0.90 $0.90

33.33%

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

$23.0K $23.0K

$25.6K $25.6K

-9.96%

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

$24.6K $24.6K

$26.2K $26.2K

-5.82%

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

$283 $283

$174 $174

62.62%

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

$41.25 $41.25

$57.9 $57.9

-28.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$54.3 $54.3

$80.1 $80.1

-32.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.0 $51.0

$56.7 $56.7

-10.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$30.13 $30.13

Cinema Ticket

$12.32 $12.32

$15.10 $15.10

-18.41%

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

$1,300 $1,300

$1,299 $1,299

0.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.6K $23.6K

$34.0K $34.0K

-30.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$38.54 $38.54

$50.9 $50.9

-24.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$10.05 $10.05

$73.6 $73.6

-86.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.2 $77.2

$84.9 $84.9

-9.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.6 $77.6

$111 $111

-29.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,653 $1,653

$1,882 $1,882

-12.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,207 $1,207

$1,328 $1,328

-9.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,266 $2,266

$3,284 $3,284

-30.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,603 $1,603

$2,274 $2,274

-29.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,412 $5,412

$2,450 $2,450

120.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,486 $5,486

$2,346 $2,346

133.90%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,508 $4,508

$4,227 $4,227

6.66%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.32

6.59

-4.10%

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

Last update for Hilo, HI: June 1, 2026

Last update for Baltimore, MD: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,653 in Hilo, HI and $1,882 in Baltimore, MD. 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: $79.0 in Hilo, HI vs $81.0 in Baltimore, MD. Groceries flip the comparison at $604 vs $427, 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

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

Hilo, HI pays 7% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,653 in Hilo, HI versus $1,882 in Baltimore, MD. 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, Hilo, HI and Baltimore, MD 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.