Cost of Living Comparison Between Hilo, HI and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Hilo, HI and Chicago, IL

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Hilo, HI is 1.6% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 10.9% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Hilo, HI is 9.8% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 21% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Hilo, HI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.29 $17.29
$20.82 $20.82
-16.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$78.9 $78.9
$100 $100
-21.40%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.19 $11.19
$11.97 $11.97
-6.52%
Cappuccino
$7.89 $7.89
$5.56 $5.56
41.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39 $2.39
$3.11 $3.11
-23.15%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.2 $2.2
$2.42 $2.42
-9.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.1 $6.1
$6.86 $6.86
-11.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.14 $6.14
$8.45 $8.45
-27.34%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Hilo, HI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.81 $1.81
$1.04 $1.04
74.04%
White Bread (500g)
$7.46 $7.46
$4.15 $4.15
79.76%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$6.34 $6.34
$5.52 $5.52
14.86%
Eggs
$8.44 $8.44
$4.65 $4.65
81.51%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.25 $13.25
$14.33 $14.33
-7.54%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.22 $15.22
$14.88 $14.88
2.28%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$23.52 $23.52
$19.34 $19.34
21.61%
Apples (1kg)
$5.99 $5.99
$5.17 $5.17
15.86%
Banana (1kg)
$2.73 $2.73
$1.71 $1.71
59.65%
Oranges (1kg)
$9.84 $9.84
$4.41 $4.41
123.13%
Tomato (1kg)
$11.19 $11.19
$4.51 $4.51
148.12%
Potato (1kg)
$5.18 $5.18
$2.53 $2.53
104.74%
Onion (1kg)
$7.48 $7.48
$2.74 $2.74
172.99%
Lettuce (1 head)
$4.62 $4.62
$2.43 $2.43
90.12%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.68 $2.68
$2.7 $2.7
-0.74%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.55 $13.55
$15.19 $15.19
-10.80%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.38 $12.38
$16.42 $16.42
-24.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 $1.71
$2.35 $2.35
-27.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.41 $3.41
$3.7 $3.7
-7.84%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Hilo, HI
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.96 $1.96
$2.53 $2.53
-22.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.1 $74.1
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.82 $3.82
$3.34 $3.34
14.37%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.12 $1.12
$1.42 $1.42
-21.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.85 $28.85
$25.42 $25.42
13.49%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.2 $1.2
$1.08 $1.08
11.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.2K $23.2K
$32.4K $32.4K
-28.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.1K $24.1K
$26.2K $26.2K
-8.17%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hilo, HI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$280 $280
$188 $188
48.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$42.69 $42.69
$63.7 $63.7
-32.98%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.9 $53.9
$65.2 $65.2
-17.32%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Hilo, HI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.59 $49.59
$76.7 $76.7
-35.36%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.33 $12.33
$14.93 $14.93
-17.41%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Hilo, HI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,304 $1,304
$2,063 $2,063
-36.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.6K $23.6K
$39.2K $39.2K
-39.74%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Hilo, HI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$37.93 $37.93
$64.3 $64.3
-41.02%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$9.99 $9.99
$52.4 $52.4
-80.93%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.3 $77.3
$95.2 $95.2
-18.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.1 $77.1
$145 $145
-46.74%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Hilo, HI
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,663 $1,663
$2,378 $2,378
-30.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,210 $1,210
$1,584 $1,584
-23.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,239 $2,239
$4,763 $4,763
-53.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,569 $1,569
$2,815 $2,815
-44.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,170 $5,170
$3,588 $3,588
44.09%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,524 $4,524
$2,490 $2,490
81.68%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Hilo, HI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,452 $4,452
$5,275 $5,275
-15.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.32
6.6
-4.24%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Hilo, HI: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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