City Comparison

Hilo vs Naperville

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Hilo

Hawaii
132
Expensive
$555,000
Median Home
$1,575/mo
Median Rent
$78,700
Median Income

Naperville

Illinois
112
Above Average
$430,000
Median Home
$1,800/mo
Median Rent
$118,254
Median Income

The Verdict

17.9%

Naperville is 17.9% less expensive than Hilo overall. A household earning $75,000 in Hilo would need approximately $63,636 in Naperville to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
149
Hilo
130
Naperville
Groceries
149
Hilo
104
Naperville
Utilities
218
Hilo
99
Naperville
Transportation
146
Hilo
116
Naperville
Healthcare
118
Hilo
101
Naperville

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Hilo has the same purchasing power as $63,636 in Naperville.

Conversely, $75,000 in Naperville equals $88,393 in Hilo.

Living in Hilo vs Naperville

Housing Costs

Hilo's housing index of 149 is higher Naperville's 130, translating to median home prices of $555,000 vs $430,000. The $125,000 difference in home prices means roughly $8,124 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,575/mo in Hilo compared to $1,800/mo in Naperville, a monthly difference of $225.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 149 in Hilo and 104 in Naperville. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $708/month in Hilo vs $494/month in Naperville. Naperville offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $2568/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 218 in Hilo and 99 in Naperville. Monthly utility bills average approximately $872 in Hilo vs $396 in Naperville. 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 101 in Naperville. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 17-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 $118,254 in Naperville. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $59,621 and $105,584 respectively. Naperville 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 $2,759/month in Naperville. In Hilo, median rent of $1,575/mo fits within this budget. In Naperville, median rent of $1,800/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Utilities, where the gap is 119 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Naperville is 17.9% more affordable overall with an index of 112 vs 132.
A $75,000 salary in Hilo has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $63,636 in Naperville, based on the cost of living difference.
Hilo's housing index is 149 with median homes at $555,000, while Naperville's is 130 with median homes at $430,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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