Albany vs Hilo
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Albany
Hilo
The Verdict
Albany is 25.0% less expensive than Hilo overall. A household earning $75,000 in Albany would need approximately $100,000 in Hilo to maintain the same standard of living.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Albany has the same purchasing power as $100,000 in Hilo.
Conversely, $75,000 in Hilo equals $56,250 in Albany.
Living in Albany vs Hilo
Housing Costs
Albany's housing index of 93 is lower Hilo's 149, translating to median home prices of $220,000 vs $555,000. The $335,000 difference in home prices means roughly $21,780 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,200/mo in Albany compared to $1,575/mo in Hilo, a monthly difference of $375.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 102 in Albany and 149 in Hilo. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $485/month in Albany vs $708/month in Hilo. Albany offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $2676/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 107 in Albany and 218 in Hilo. Monthly utility bills average approximately $428 in Albany vs $872 in Hilo. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 100 in Albany and 118 in Hilo. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 18-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $43,098 in Albany and $78,700 in Hilo. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $43,533 and $59,621 respectively. Hilo residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,006/month to housing in Albany vs $1,836/month in Hilo. In Albany, median rent of $1,200/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Hilo, median rent of $1,575/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Utilities, where the gap is 111 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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