Hilo vs Racine
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Hilo
Racine
The Verdict
Racine is 50.0% less expensive than Hilo overall. A household earning $75,000 in Hilo would need approximately $50,000 in Racine 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 $50,000 in Racine.
Conversely, $75,000 in Racine equals $112,500 in Hilo.
Living in Hilo vs Racine
Housing Costs
Hilo's housing index of 149 is higher Racine's 66, translating to median home prices of $555,000 vs $126,000. The $429,000 difference in home prices means roughly $27,888 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,575/mo in Hilo compared to $1,025/mo in Racine, a monthly difference of $550.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 149 in Hilo and 97 in Racine. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $708/month in Hilo vs $461/month in Racine. Racine offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $2964/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 218 in Hilo and 94 in Racine. Monthly utility bills average approximately $872 in Hilo vs $376 in Racine. 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 111 in Racine. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $78,700 in Hilo and $57,700 in Racine. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $59,621 and $65,568 respectively. Racine 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 $1,346/month in Racine. In Hilo, median rent of $1,575/mo fits within this budget. In Racine, median rent of $1,025/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Utilities, where the gap is 124 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases