Cost of Living Comparison Between Hilo, HI and Tampa, FL Cost of Living Comparison Between Hilo, HI and Tampa, FL

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,670 per month in Hilo, HI vs $3,040 in Tampa, FL, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,736 per month in Hilo, HI vs $4,431 in Tampa, FL, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,803 per month in Hilo, HI vs $5,822 in Tampa, FL, rent included.

Hilo, HI is about 12% cheaper than Tampa, FL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Hilo, HI and Tampa, FL sit above the global median – Hilo, HI by 100%, Tampa, FL by 128%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.29 $17.29

$19.66 $19.66

-12.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.1 $76.1

$80.3 $80.3

-5.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.20 $11.20

$12.08 $12.08

-7.28%

Cappuccino

$7.95 $7.95

$5.11 $5.11

55.58%

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

$2.37 $2.37

$2.61 $2.61

-9.20%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.21 $2.21

$2.08 $2.08

6.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.05 $6.05

$6.90 $6.90

-12.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.03 $6.03

$7.91 $7.91

-23.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.82 $1.82

$1.25 $1.25

45.60%

White Bread (500g)

$7.44 $7.44

$4.01 $4.01

85.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.21 $6.21

$5.23 $5.23

18.74%

Eggs

$8.64 $8.64

$4.37 $4.37

97.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.07 $13.07

$16.19 $16.19

-19.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.01 $15.01

$11.70 $11.70

28.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$22.98 $22.98

$15.92 $15.92

44.35%

Apples (1kg)

$5.72 $5.72

$6.39 $6.39

-10.49%

Banana (1kg)

$2.63 $2.63

$1.72 $1.72

52.91%

Oranges (1kg)

$10.19 $10.19

$4.41 $4.41

131.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$11.05 $11.05

$4.61 $4.61

139.70%

Potato (1kg)

$5.07 $5.07

$3.49 $3.49

45.27%

Onion (1kg)

$7.58 $7.58

$3.71 $3.71

104.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$4.68 $4.68

$2.45 $2.45

91.02%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.63 $2.63

$2.54 $2.54

3.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.31 $13.31

$8.04 $8.04

65.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.14 $15.14

$15.81 $15.81

-4.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.72 $1.72

$2.46 $2.46

-30.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.46 $3.46

$3.51 $3.51

-1.42%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.96 $1.96

$2.05 $2.05

-4.39%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$66.6 $66.6

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.78 $3.78

$2.51 $2.51

50.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.16 $1.16

$1.47 $1.47

-21.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.83 $28.83

$29.50 $29.50

-2.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$0.92 $0.92

30.43%

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

$22.9K $22.9K

$33.6K $33.6K

-31.67%

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

$24.3K $24.3K

$27.3K $27.3K

-10.95%

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

$280 $280

$232 $232

20.74%

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

$42.22 $42.22

$69.1 $69.1

-38.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$52.9 $52.9

$69.8 $69.8

-24.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$50.2 $50.2

$38.02 $38.02

32.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.96 $12.96

Cinema Ticket

$12.58 $12.58

$15.89 $15.89

-20.83%

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

$1,297 $1,297

$1,319 $1,319

-1.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.9K $23.9K

$13.9K $13.9K

71.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$38.26 $38.26

$57.5 $57.5

-33.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$9.82 $9.82

$36.90 $36.90

-73.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.5 $78.5

$94.5 $94.5

-16.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.8 $76.8

$136 $136

-43.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,656 $1,656

$2,044 $2,044

-18.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,190 $1,190

$1,525 $1,525

-21.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,247 $2,247

$3,657 $3,657

-38.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,608 $1,608

$2,677 $2,677

-39.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,394 $5,394

$5,278 $5,278

2.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,365 $5,365

$2,369 $2,369

126.46%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,536 $4,536

$4,638 $4,638

-2.19%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.32

6.48

-2.47%

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

Last update for Hilo, HI: July 20, 2026

Last update for Tampa, FL: July 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,656 in Hilo, HI versus $2,044 in Tampa, FL. 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 2% higher in Tampa, FL, 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 $80.0 in Tampa, FL. Groceries tell a different story – $602 in Hilo, HI vs $438 in Tampa, FL – so Tampa, FL 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 Tampa, FL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tampa, FL costs about 14% 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 $4,005 per month in Hilo, HI and $4,560 in Tampa, FL. 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 $76.0 in Hilo, HI and $80.0 in Tampa, FL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 37% cheaper in Tampa, FL – 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 $2,670 in Hilo, HI and $3,040 in Tampa, FL. 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, Tampa, FL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.