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: $2,878 in Hilo, HI versus $2,566 in Baltimore, MD.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,076 in Hilo, HI versus $3,955 in Baltimore, MD.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,274 in Hilo, HI versus $5,344 in Baltimore, MD.

Living in Hilo, HI is roughly 12% more expensive than in Baltimore, MD, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Hilo, HI 109% above, Baltimore, MD 86% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.64 $19.64

$17.81 $17.81

10.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.5 $80.5

$96.0 $96.0

-16.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.86 $10.86

$10.78 $10.78

0.74%

Cappuccino

$5.51 $5.51

$5.18 $5.18

6.37%

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

$2.44 $2.44

$3.52 $3.52

-30.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 $2.27

$2.64 $2.64

-14.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.62 $6.62

$7.04 $7.04

-5.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.04 $7.04

$8.11 $8.11

-13.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.80 $1.80

$1.10 $1.10

63.64%

White Bread (500g)

$9.93 $9.93

$4.01 $4.01

147.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.45 $5.45

$4.06 $4.06

34.24%

Eggs

$6.83 $6.83

$4.78 $4.78

42.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.66 $19.66

$12.59 $12.59

56.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$22.03 $22.03

$13.09 $13.09

68.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$26.08 $26.08

$19.02 $19.02

37.12%

Apples (1kg)

$8.17 $8.17

$6.12 $6.12

33.50%

Banana (1kg)

$2.45 $2.45

$1.54 $1.54

59.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$8.66 $8.66

$5.59 $5.59

54.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$10.88 $10.88

$4.83 $4.83

125.26%

Potato (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

Onion (1kg)

$8.63 $8.63

$2.97 $2.97

190.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$4.65 $4.65

$2.36 $2.36

97.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.06 $3.06

$2.27 $2.27

34.80%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.89 $11.89

$14.19 $14.19

-16.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.83 $14.83

$15.85 $15.85

-6.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 $1.77

$2.59 $2.59

-31.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.83 $3.83

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.98 $1.98

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.8 $76.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.36 $4.36

$1.83 $1.83

138.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.12 $1.12

$1.38 $1.38

-18.84%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.07 $24.07

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.40 $1.40

$1.04 $1.04

34.62%

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

$28.8K $28.8K

$36.2K $36.2K

-20.41%

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

$24.6K $24.6K

$25.2K $25.2K

-2.30%

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

$369 $369

$214 $214

71.90%

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

$67.6 $67.6

$67.7 $67.7

-0.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.6 $69.6

$84.7 $84.7

-17.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.33 $49.33

$50.5 $50.5

-2.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$46.67 $46.67

Cinema Ticket

$13.24 $13.24

$14.97 $14.97

-11.56%

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

$1,940 $1,940

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$35.1K $35.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.66 $24.66

$51.5 $51.5

-52.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.47 $30.47

$62.4 $62.4

-51.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$66.8 $66.8

$91.9 $91.9

-27.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.3 $76.3

$109 $109

-29.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,949 $1,949

$1,764 $1,764

10.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,200 $1,200

$1,079 $1,079

11.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,262 $2,262

$2,299 $2,299

-1.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,589 $1,589

$2,065 $2,065

-23.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,322 $5,322

$2,491 $2,491

113.60%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,341 $5,341

$2,318 $2,318

130.43%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,565 $4,565

$4,352 $4,352

4.90%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.1

6.26

-2.56%

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

Last update for Hilo, HI: September 6, 2026

Last update for Baltimore, MD: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,949 in Hilo, HI and $1,764 in Baltimore, MD. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Hilo, HI pays 5% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $81.0 in Hilo, HI vs $96.0 in Baltimore, MD. Groceries flip the comparison at $669 vs $436, 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

Baltimore, MD wins on cost – living expenses run 12% lower than in Hilo, HI. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Baltimore, MD the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 5% 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: $1,949 in Hilo, HI versus $1,764 in Baltimore, MD. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,878 per month in Hilo, HI versus $2,566 in Baltimore, MD – a 12% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Supermarket bills run roughly 53% higher in Hilo, HI. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

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.

Expats usually find Baltimore, MD gentler on the wallet – expenses run 12% less than in Hilo, HI. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.