Cost of Living Comparison Between Hilo, HI and New York, NY Cost of Living Comparison Between Hilo, HI and New York, NY

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,719 per month in Hilo, HI vs $4,438 in New York, NY, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,816 per month in Hilo, HI vs $7,016 in New York, NY, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,914 per month in Hilo, HI vs $9,593 in New York, NY, rent included.

Hilo, HI is about 39% cheaper than New York, NY, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Hilo, HI and New York, NY sit above the global median – Hilo, HI by 103%, New York, NY by 231%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.82 $16.82

$29.91 $29.91

-43.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$78.2 $78.2

$144 $144

-45.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.16 $11.16

$12.32 $12.32

-9.42%

Cappuccino

$8.12 $8.12

$6.03 $6.03

34.66%

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

$2.26 $2.26

$3.39 $3.39

-33.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$2.56 $2.56

-10.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.98 $5.98

$8.20 $8.20

-27.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.86 $5.86

$11.95 $11.95

-50.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.79 $1.79

$1.54 $1.54

16.23%

White Bread (500g)

$7.61 $7.61

$5.15 $5.15

47.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.29 $6.29

$8.43 $8.43

-25.39%

Eggs

$8.51 $8.51

$6.97 $6.97

22.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.35 $13.35

$17.28 $17.28

-22.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.89 $14.89

$16.24 $16.24

-8.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.55 $23.55

$19.95 $19.95

18.05%

Apples (1kg)

$5.70 $5.70

$7.45 $7.45

-23.49%

Banana (1kg)

$2.64 $2.64

$2.42 $2.42

9.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$9.75 $9.75

$5.87 $5.87

66.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$11.20 $11.20

$6.31 $6.31

77.50%

Potato (1kg)

$5.03 $5.03

$3.72 $3.72

35.22%

Onion (1kg)

$7.64 $7.64

$3.99 $3.99

91.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$4.89 $4.89

$3.19 $3.19

53.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$2.55 $2.55

2.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.52 $13.52

$19.09 $19.09

-29.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.73 $14.73

$20.24 $20.24

-27.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 $1.76

$2.99 $2.99

-41.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.44 $3.44

$3.87 $3.87

-11.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.95 $2.95

-33.90%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$131 $131

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.77 $3.77

$5.13 $5.13

-26.51%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.18 $1.18

$2.20 $2.20

-46.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.63 $28.63

$42.64 $42.64

-32.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 $1.19

$0.95 $0.95

25.26%

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

$23.2K $23.2K

$34.5K $34.5K

-32.73%

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

$24.7K $24.7K

$28.2K $28.2K

-12.33%

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

$284 $284

$182 $182

55.97%

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

$41.54 $41.54

$60.1 $60.1

-30.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$52.8 $52.8

$61.9 $61.9

-14.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.91 $49.91

$140 $140

-64.36%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$64.4 $64.4

Cinema Ticket

$12.49 $12.49

$20.33 $20.33

-38.56%

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

$1,277 $1,277

$3,222 $3,222

-60.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.3K $23.3K

$56.2K $56.2K

-58.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$38.87 $38.87

$65.9 $65.9

-41.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$10.18 $10.18

$47.20 $47.20

-78.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.3 $78.3

$111 $111

-29.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.6 $78.6

$173 $173

-54.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,663 $1,663

$4,208 $4,208

-60.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,208 $1,208

$2,647 $2,647

-54.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,306 $2,306

$8,415 $8,415

-72.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,599 $1,599

$5,170 $5,170

-69.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,324 $5,324

$20.1K $20.1K

-73.51%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,374 $5,374

$8,742 $8,742

-38.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,514 $4,514

$5,144 $5,144

-12.24%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.32

6.44

-1.86%

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

Last update for Hilo, HI: April 21, 2026

Last update for New York, NY: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,663 in Hilo, HI versus $4,208 in New York, NY. 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 14% higher in New York, NY, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $78 in Hilo, HI versus $144 in New York, NY. Groceries tell a different story – $604 in Hilo, HI vs $554 in New York, NY – so New York, NY 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 New York, NY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

New York, NY costs about 63% more than Hilo, HI, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. 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 $6,657 in New York, NY. 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 $144 in New York, NY. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 9% cheaper in New York, NY – 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 $4,438 in New York, NY. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Hilo, HI costs $2,719 versus $4,438 in New York, NY. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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, New York, NY makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.