Cost of Living Comparison Between Hilo, HI and Wasilla, AK Cost of Living Comparison Between Hilo, HI and Wasilla, AK

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,719 per month in Hilo, HI vs $2,691 in Wasilla, AK, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,816 per month in Hilo, HI vs $3,723 in Wasilla, AK, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,914 per month in Hilo, HI vs $4,755 in Wasilla, AK, rent included.

Hilo, HI costs about 1% more than Wasilla, AK, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Hilo, HI and Wasilla, AK sit above the global median – Hilo, HI by 103%, Wasilla, AK by 101%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.82 $16.82

$25.40 $25.40

-33.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$78.2 $78.2

$98.7 $98.7

-20.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.16 $11.16

$11.93 $11.93

-6.45%

Cappuccino

$8.12 $8.12

$4.46 $4.46

82.06%

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

$2.26 $2.26

$2.13 $2.13

6.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$1.95 $1.95

16.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.98 $5.98

$5.97 $5.97

0.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.86 $5.86

$7.37 $7.37

-20.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.79 $1.79

$1.11 $1.11

61.26%

White Bread (500g)

$7.61 $7.61

$4.11 $4.11

85.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.29 $6.29

$2.15 $2.15

192.56%

Eggs

$8.51 $8.51

$3.27 $3.27

160.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.35 $13.35

$12.21 $12.21

9.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.89 $14.89

$10.79 $10.79

38.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.55 $23.55

$17.44 $17.44

35.03%

Apples (1kg)

$5.70 $5.70

$7.87 $7.87

-27.57%

Banana (1kg)

$2.64 $2.64

$1.99 $1.99

32.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$9.75 $9.75

$4.21 $4.21

131.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$11.20 $11.20

$3.77 $3.77

197.08%

Potato (1kg)

$5.03 $5.03

$2.36 $2.36

113.14%

Onion (1kg)

$7.64 $7.64

$2.80 $2.80

172.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$4.89 $4.89

$2.77 $2.77

76.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$2.28 $2.28

14.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.52 $13.52

$11.39 $11.39

18.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.73 $14.73

$11.84 $11.84

24.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.78 $1.78

-1.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.44 $3.44

$3.74 $3.74

-8.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.95 $1.95

$1.98 $1.98

-1.52%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$88.8 $88.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.77 $3.77

$2.83 $2.83

33.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.18 $1.18

$1.73 $1.73

-31.79%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.63 $28.63

$37.95 $37.95

-24.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 $1.19

$1.00 $1.00

19.00%

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

$23.2K $23.2K

$24.0K $24.0K

-3.37%

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

$24.7K $24.7K

$25.6K $25.6K

-3.28%

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

$284 $284

$176 $176

61.30%

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

$41.54 $41.54

$40.72 $40.72

2.01%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$52.8 $52.8

$122 $122

-56.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.91 $49.91

$42.95 $42.95

16.20%

Cinema Ticket

$12.49 $12.49

$11.53 $11.53

8.33%

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

$1,277 $1,277

$966 $966

32.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.3K $23.3K

$10.4K $10.4K

123.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$38.87 $38.87

$48.85 $48.85

-20.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$10.18 $10.18

$44.45 $44.45

-77.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.3 $78.3

$77.2 $77.2

1.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.6 $78.6

$93.2 $93.2

-15.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,663 $1,663

$1,601 $1,601

3.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,208 $1,208

$1,346 $1,346

-10.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,306 $2,306

$1,833 $1,833

25.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,599 $1,599

$1,627 $1,627

-1.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,324 $5,324

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,374 $5,374

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,514 $4,514

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.32

6.46

-2.17%

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

Last update for Hilo, HI: April 21, 2026

Last update for Wasilla, AK: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,663 in Hilo, HI versus $1,601 in Wasilla, AK. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $78 in Hilo, HI versus $99 in Wasilla, AK. Groceries tell a different story – $604 in Hilo, HI vs $395 in Wasilla, AK – so Wasilla, AK 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 Wasilla, AK: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Hilo, HI costs about 1% more than Wasilla, AK, 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 $4,036 in Wasilla, AK. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Wasilla, AK, 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 $99.0 in Wasilla, AK. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 53% 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.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,719 in Hilo, HI and $2,691 in Wasilla, AK. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Wasilla, AK – 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 Wasilla, AK. 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.