Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Hilo, HI Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Hilo, HI

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,634 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,719 in Hilo, HI, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,545 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,830 in Hilo, HI, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,456 per month in Seattle, WA vs $4,941 in Hilo, HI, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 34% more than Hilo, HI, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Seattle, WA and Hilo, HI sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 170%, Hilo, HI by 102%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.77 $24.77

$16.81 $16.81

47.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$119 $119

$76.7 $76.7

54.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.78 $13.78

$11.15 $11.15

23.59%

Cappuccino

$5.61 $5.61

$7.87 $7.87

-28.72%

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

$2.89 $2.89

$2.26 $2.26

27.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$2.28 $2.28

7.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.96 $7.96

$5.83 $5.83

36.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.21 $8.21

$6.07 $6.07

35.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.80 $1.80

-22.78%

White Bread (500g)

$4.86 $4.86

$7.52 $7.52

-35.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.16 $5.16

$6.15 $6.15

-16.10%

Eggs

$6.61 $6.61

$8.62 $8.62

-23.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.06 $25.06

$13.03 $13.03

92.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.77 $15.77

$15.23 $15.23

3.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.32 $20.32

$23.03 $23.03

-11.77%

Apples (1kg)

$6.23 $6.23

$5.77 $5.77

7.97%

Banana (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.69 $2.69

1.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.33 $5.33

$9.97 $9.97

-46.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.49 $6.49

$11.19 $11.19

-42.00%

Potato (1kg)

$3.09 $3.09

$5.13 $5.13

-39.77%

Onion (1kg)

$3.86 $3.86

$7.58 $7.58

-49.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.75 $2.75

$4.72 $4.72

-41.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.55 $2.55

$2.74 $2.74

-6.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.35 $11.35

$13.30 $13.30

-14.66%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.48 $15.48

$14.93 $14.93

3.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.84 $2.84

$1.70 $1.70

67.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.24 $4.24

$3.33 $3.33

27.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.05 $2.05

31.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$97.8 $97.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$3.72 $3.72

-30.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.13 $1.13

52.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.17 $30.17

$29.21 $29.21

3.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 $1.15

$1.21 $1.21

-4.96%

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

$33.3K $33.3K

$23.2K $23.2K

43.39%

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

$26.5K $26.5K

$24.3K $24.3K

9.02%

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

$263 $263

$279 $279

-5.53%

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

$60.2 $60.2

$41.27 $41.27

45.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.3 $74.3

$53.5 $53.5

38.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$80.6 $80.6

$51.3 $51.3

57.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.99 $40.99

Cinema Ticket

$15.91 $15.91

$12.54 $12.54

26.87%

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

$2,281 $2,281

$1,282 $1,282

77.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.8K $29.8K

$23.8K $23.8K

24.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.0 $70.0

$38.06 $38.06

83.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.8 $53.8

$10.14 $10.14

430.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 $119

$79.0 $79.0

50.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$77.5 $77.5

84.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,312 $2,312

$1,645 $1,645

40.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,829 $1,829

$1,217 $1,217

50.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,694 $4,694

$2,273 $2,273

106.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,491 $3,491

$1,596 $1,596

118.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,154 $8,154

$5,418 $5,418

50.50%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,200 $5,200

$5,387 $5,387

-3.48%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,564 $6,564

$4,578 $4,578

43.36%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.32

1.58%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: June 7, 2026

Last update for Hilo, HI: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,312 in Seattle, WA versus $1,645 in Hilo, HI. 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 43% higher in Seattle, WA, 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 $119 in Seattle, WA versus $77.0 in Hilo, HI. Groceries tell a different story – $538 in Seattle, WA vs $605 in Hilo, HI – so Seattle, WA 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

Seattle, WA vs Hilo, HI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seattle, WA costs about 34% 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 $5,452 per month in Seattle, WA and $4,078 in Hilo, HI. 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 $119 in Seattle, WA and $77.0 in Hilo, HI. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 12% cheaper in Seattle, WA – 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 $3,634 in Seattle, WA and $2,719 in Hilo, HI. 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 $3,634 in Seattle, WA. 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, Seattle, WA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.