Cost of Living Comparison Between Hilo, HI and Bellingham, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Hilo, HI and Bellingham, WA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,719 per month in Hilo, HI vs $2,794 in Bellingham, WA, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,816 per month in Hilo, HI vs $4,183 in Bellingham, WA, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,914 per month in Hilo, HI vs $5,572 in Bellingham, WA, rent included.

Hilo, HI is about 3% cheaper than Bellingham, WA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Hilo, HI and Bellingham, WA sit above the global median – Hilo, HI by 103%, Bellingham, WA by 109%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.82 $16.82

$20.12 $20.12

-16.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$78.2 $78.2

$86.5 $86.5

-9.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.16 $11.16

$13.16 $13.16

-15.20%

Cappuccino

$8.12 $8.12

$5.20 $5.20

56.15%

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

$2.26 $2.26

$2.53 $2.53

-10.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$2.01 $2.01

13.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.98 $5.98

$7.01 $7.01

-14.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.86 $5.86

$5.88 $5.88

-0.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.79 $1.79

$1.00 $1.00

79.00%

White Bread (500g)

$7.61 $7.61

$3.66 $3.66

107.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.29 $6.29

$4.23 $4.23

48.70%

Eggs

$8.51 $8.51

$4.34 $4.34

96.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.35 $13.35

$17.09 $17.09

-21.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.89 $14.89

$15.77 $15.77

-5.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.55 $23.55

$15.20 $15.20

54.93%

Apples (1kg)

$5.70 $5.70

$5.79 $5.79

-1.55%

Banana (1kg)

$2.64 $2.64

$1.56 $1.56

69.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$9.75 $9.75

$4.27 $4.27

128.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$11.20 $11.20

$5.22 $5.22

114.56%

Potato (1kg)

$5.03 $5.03

$2.93 $2.93

71.67%

Onion (1kg)

$7.64 $7.64

$2.19 $2.19

248.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$4.89 $4.89

$2.09 $2.09

133.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$2.53 $2.53

3.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.52 $13.52

$12.44 $12.44

8.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.73 $14.73

$15.27 $15.27

-3.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 $1.76

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.44 $3.44

$4.79 $4.79

-28.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.95 $1.95

$0.98 $0.98

98.98%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.34 $30.34

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.77 $3.77

$9.90 $9.90

-61.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.18 $1.18

$1.72 $1.72

-31.40%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.63 $28.63

$53.1 $53.1

-46.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 $1.19

$1.16 $1.16

2.59%

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

$23.2K $23.2K

$34.4K $34.4K

-32.49%

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

$24.7K $24.7K

$26.0K $26.0K

-4.81%

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

$284 $284

$180 $180

57.77%

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

$41.54 $41.54

$52.3 $52.3

-20.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$52.8 $52.8

$74.8 $74.8

-29.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.91 $49.91

$68.1 $68.1

-26.69%

Cinema Ticket

$12.49 $12.49

$18.35 $18.35

-31.93%

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

$1,277 $1,277

$1,445 $1,445

-11.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.3K $23.3K

$23.8K $23.8K

-1.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$38.87 $38.87

$52.2 $52.2

-25.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$10.18 $10.18

$27.95 $27.95

-63.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.3 $78.3

$96.7 $96.7

-19.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.6 $78.6

$149 $149

-47.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,663 $1,663

$1,697 $1,697

-1.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,208 $1,208

$1,441 $1,441

-16.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,306 $2,306

$2,732 $2,732

-15.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,599 $1,599

$2,448 $2,448

-34.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,324 $5,324

$3,994 $3,994

33.30%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,374 $5,374

$4,075 $4,075

31.86%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,514 $4,514

$4,156 $4,156

8.63%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.32

6.61

-4.39%

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

Last update for Hilo, HI: April 21, 2026

Last update for Bellingham, WA: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,663 in Hilo, HI versus $1,697 in Bellingham, WA. 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 9% higher in Hilo, HI, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $78 in Hilo, HI versus $87 in Bellingham, WA. Groceries tell a different story – $604 in Hilo, HI vs $439 in Bellingham, WA – so Bellingham, WA wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Bellingham, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bellingham, WA costs about 3% more than Hilo, HI, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,078 per month in Hilo, HI and $4,191 in Bellingham, WA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $78.0 in Hilo, HI and $87.0 in Bellingham, WA. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 38% cheaper in Bellingham, WA – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,719 in Hilo, HI and $2,794 in Bellingham, WA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Hilo, HI – 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 Hilo, HI. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bellingham, WA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.