Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Hilo, HI and Pago Pago

For one person, living is cheaper in Pago Pago: $1,456 a month against $2,966 in Hilo, HI, rent and utilities included – about $18,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

144

Cost of Living Index in Hilo, HI
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Hilo, HI Living Index
71

Cost of Living Index in Pago Pago
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Pago Pago Living Index

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Hilo, HI

🇺🇸 United States

$2,966

/mo nomad

Pago Pago

🇦🇸 American Samoa

$1,456

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Hilo, HI and in Pago Pago

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Hilo, HI and in Pago Pago actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,966 per month in Hilo, HI vs $1,456 in Pago Pago, rent included.

Hilo, HI $2,966
Pago Pago $1,456

A couple spends around $4,340 per month in Hilo, HI vs $2,262 in Pago Pago, rent included.

Hilo, HI $4,340
Pago Pago $2,262

A family of three spends $5,713 per month in Hilo, HI vs $3,068 in Pago Pago, rent included.

Hilo, HI $5,713
Pago Pago $3,068

Hilo, HI costs about 104% more than Pago Pago, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Hilo, HI and Pago Pago sit above the global median – Hilo, HI by 121%, Pago Pago by 9%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.26 $19.26

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.1 $76.1

$36.18 $36.18

110.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.21 $12.21

$10.07 $10.07

21.25%

Cappuccino

$5.72 $5.72

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

$2.69 $2.69

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.20 $2.20

$1.01 $1.01

117.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.12 $6.12

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.07 $7.07

$3.89 $3.89

81.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.76 $1.76

$2.59 $2.59

-32.05%

White Bread (500g)

$9.55 $9.55

$2.82 $2.82

238.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.28 $4.28

$4.20 $4.20

1.90%

Eggs

$6.72 $6.72

$4.63 $4.63

45.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.71 $19.71

$10.03 $10.03

96.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$17.73 $17.73

$9.83 $9.83

80.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$30.34 $30.34

$11.47 $11.47

164.52%

Apples (1kg)

$8.58 $8.58

$6.15 $6.15

39.51%

Banana (1kg)

$2.48 $2.48

$1.02 $1.02

143.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$10.21 $10.21

$2.93 $2.93

248.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$11.90 $11.90

$4.02 $4.02

196.02%

Potato (1kg)

$8.87 $8.87

$3.92 $3.92

126.28%

Onion (1kg)

$7.58 $7.58

$4.06 $4.06

86.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$5.52 $5.52

$1.98 $1.98

178.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.06 $3.06

$2.02 $2.02

51.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.04 $12.04

$11.49 $11.49

4.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$21.62 $21.62

$14.79 $14.79

46.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 $1.76

$0.99 $0.99

77.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 $2.88

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.03 $2.03

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$124 $124

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.15 $4.15

$5.07 $5.07

-18.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.23 $1.23

$2.05 $2.05

-40.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.49 $29.49

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 $1.44

$1.36 $1.36

5.88%

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

$30.3K $30.3K

$29.7K $29.7K

2.02%

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

$25.8K $25.8K

$20.2K $20.2K

28.04%

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

$297 $297

$404 $404

-26.41%

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

$65.7 $65.7

$30.11 $30.11

118.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$126 $126

$76.3 $76.3

64.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.55 $43.55

$49.35 $49.35

-11.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.52 $24.52

$10.06 $10.06

143.74%

Cinema Ticket

$13.14 $13.14

$9.22 $9.22

42.52%

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

$989 $989

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,838 $9,838

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$37.10 $37.10

$69.4 $69.4

-46.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.30 $30.30

$50.3 $50.3

-39.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$66.8 $66.8

$81.3 $81.3

-17.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.8 $83.8

$102 $102

-17.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,682 $1,682

$327 $327

414.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,255 $1,255

$201 $201

523.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,187 $2,187

$884 $884

147.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,093 $2,093

$707 $707

195.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,484 $5,484

$18.1K $18.1K

-69.68%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,339 $5,339

$10.7K $10.7K

-49.98%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,434 $4,434

$1,217 $1,217

264.18%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.62

120.67%

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

Last update for Hilo, HI: October 4, 2026

Last update for Pago Pago: October 4, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Hilo, HI

$1.3K 42.5%

Pago Pago

$201 13.7% 84% $1.1K

Groceries & Markets

Hilo, HI

$707 * 23.9%

Pago Pago

$364 24.8% 48.5% $343

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Hilo, HI

$489 16.6%

Pago Pago

$510 34.7% 4.4% $21

Eating Out

Hilo, HI

$324 11%

Pago Pago

$42 * 2.9% 87% $282

Clothing & Footwear

Hilo, HI

$98 3.3%

Pago Pago

$136 9.3% 38.8% $38

Sport & Entertainment

Hilo, HI

$70 2.4%

Pago Pago

$68 4.6% 2.9% $2

Getting Around

Hilo, HI

$10 * 0.4%

Pago Pago

$147 10% 1333% $137

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,682 in Hilo, HI versus $327 in Pago Pago. 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 264% higher in Hilo, HI, 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 $76.0 in Hilo, HI versus $36.00 in Pago Pago. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $707 vs $364 – making Pago Pago the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Hilo, HI

🇦🇸 Pago Pago

🕒 Local time

16:55 4:55 PM

15:55 3:55 PM

1 h behind Hilo, HI

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

44,186

11,500 Capital

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.892 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Highest

Between locations

Hilo, HI Pago Pago 4,140 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight

From you

Hilo, HI
Pago Pago

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Pago Pago: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Hilo, HI costs about 104% more than Pago Pago, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,450 per month in Hilo, HI and $2,184 in Pago Pago. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,966 in Hilo, HI and $1,456 in Pago Pago. That's a gap of about 104%.

Groceries cost about 94% more in Hilo, HI, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Pago Pago, where all-in costs run around $1,456, than in Hilo, HI at $2,966. In Pago Pago it covers expenses comfortably, while in Hilo, HI it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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