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: $2,670 in Hilo, HI versus $2,687 in Baltimore, MD.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,736 in Hilo, HI versus $4,020 in Baltimore, MD.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,803 in Hilo, HI versus $5,354 in Baltimore, MD.

Living in Hilo, HI costs roughly 1% less than in Baltimore, MD, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Hilo, HI 100% above, Baltimore, MD 101% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.29 $17.29

$19.95 $19.95

-13.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.1 $76.1

$79.1 $79.1

-3.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.20 $11.20

$10.09 $10.09

11.00%

Cappuccino

$7.95 $7.95

$5.00 $5.00

59.00%

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

$2.37 $2.37

$2.33 $2.33

1.72%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.21 $2.21

$2.12 $2.12

4.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.05 $6.05

$6.16 $6.16

-1.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.03 $6.03

$7.52 $7.52

-19.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.82 $1.82

$1.02 $1.02

78.43%

White Bread (500g)

$7.44 $7.44

$3.95 $3.95

88.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.21 $6.21

$4.37 $4.37

42.11%

Eggs

$8.64 $8.64

$4.41 $4.41

95.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.07 $13.07

$13.62 $13.62

-4.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.01 $15.01

$9.94 $9.94

51.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$22.98 $22.98

$16.31 $16.31

40.90%

Apples (1kg)

$5.72 $5.72

$6.91 $6.91

-17.22%

Banana (1kg)

$2.63 $2.63

$1.55 $1.55

69.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$10.19 $10.19

$7.20 $7.20

41.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$11.05 $11.05

$5.25 $5.25

110.48%

Potato (1kg)

$5.07 $5.07

$2.73 $2.73

85.71%

Onion (1kg)

$7.58 $7.58

$2.94 $2.94

157.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$4.68 $4.68

$2.40 $2.40

95.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.63 $2.63

$2.67 $2.67

-1.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.31 $13.31

$12.69 $12.69

4.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.14 $15.14

$15.13 $15.13

0.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.72 $1.72

$2.32 $2.32

-25.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.46 $3.46

$3.91 $3.91

-11.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.96 $1.96

$2.54 $2.54

-22.83%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.7 $76.7

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.78 $3.78

$1.75 $1.75

116.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.16 $1.16

$1.34 $1.34

-13.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.83 $28.83

$23.88 $23.88

20.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$0.90 $0.90

33.33%

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

$22.9K $22.9K

$25.7K $25.7K

-10.64%

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

$24.3K $24.3K

$26.2K $26.2K

-7.32%

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

$280 $280

$170 $170

64.41%

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

$42.22 $42.22

$56.4 $56.4

-25.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$52.9 $52.9

$80.6 $80.6

-34.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$50.2 $50.2

$58.3 $58.3

-13.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.85 $29.85

Cinema Ticket

$12.58 $12.58

$14.73 $14.73

-14.60%

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

$1,297 $1,297

$1,268 $1,268

2.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.9K $23.9K

$33.5K $33.5K

-28.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$38.26 $38.26

$51.1 $51.1

-25.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$9.82 $9.82

$72.2 $72.2

-86.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.5 $78.5

$86.2 $86.2

-8.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.8 $76.8

$112 $112

-31.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,656 $1,656

$1,827 $1,827

-9.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,190 $1,190

$1,332 $1,332

-10.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,247 $2,247

$3,383 $3,383

-33.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,608 $1,608

$2,273 $2,273

-29.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,394 $5,394

$2,472 $2,472

118.21%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,365 $5,365

$2,289 $2,289

134.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,536 $4,536

$4,413 $4,413

2.78%

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: July 20, 2026

Last update for Baltimore, MD: July 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,656 in Hilo, HI and $1,827 in Baltimore, MD. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Hilo, HI pays 3% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $76.0 in Hilo, HI vs $79.0 in Baltimore, MD. Groceries flip the comparison at $602 vs $429, 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 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.

Average pay runs 3% higher in Hilo, HI, 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: $1,656 in Hilo, HI versus $1,827 in Baltimore, MD. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Baltimore, MD pay roughly 40% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $2,670 per month in Hilo, HI versus $2,687 in Baltimore, MD – 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, 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.

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.