Hilo vs Lakewood
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Hilo
Lakewood
The Verdict
Hilo is 0.8% less expensive than Lakewood overall. A household earning $75,000 in Hilo would need approximately $75,568 in Lakewood 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 Hilo has the same purchasing power as $75,568 in Lakewood.
Conversely, $75,000 in Lakewood equals $74,436 in Hilo.
Living in Hilo vs Lakewood
Housing Costs
Hilo's housing index of 149 is lower Lakewood's 188, translating to median home prices of $555,000 vs $574,000. The $19,000 difference in home prices means roughly $1,236 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,575/mo in Hilo compared to $1,850/mo in Lakewood, a monthly difference of $275.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 149 in Hilo and 101 in Lakewood. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $708/month in Hilo vs $480/month in Lakewood. Lakewood offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $2736/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 218 in Hilo and 85 in Lakewood. Monthly utility bills average approximately $872 in Hilo vs $340 in Lakewood. 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 118 in Hilo and 84 in Lakewood. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 34-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $78,700 in Hilo and $83,800 in Lakewood. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $59,621 and $63,008 respectively. Lakewood residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,836/month to housing in Hilo vs $1,955/month in Lakewood. In Hilo, median rent of $1,575/mo fits within this budget. In Lakewood, median rent of $1,850/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Utilities, where the gap is 133 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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