Hilo vs Salt Lake City
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Hilo
Salt Lake City
The Verdict
Salt Lake City is 23.4% less expensive than Hilo overall. A household earning $75,000 in Hilo would need approximately $60,795 in Salt Lake City 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 $60,795 in Salt Lake City.
Conversely, $75,000 in Salt Lake City equals $92,523 in Hilo.
Living in Hilo vs Salt Lake City
Housing Costs
Hilo's housing index of 149 is higher Salt Lake City's 120, translating to median home prices of $555,000 vs $440,000. The $115,000 difference in home prices means roughly $7,476 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,575/mo in Hilo compared to $1,500/mo in Salt Lake City, a monthly difference of $75.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 149 in Hilo and 99 in Salt Lake City. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $708/month in Hilo vs $470/month in Salt Lake City. Salt Lake City offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $2856/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 218 in Hilo and 88 in Salt Lake City. Monthly utility bills average approximately $872 in Hilo vs $352 in Salt Lake City. 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 97 in Salt Lake City. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 21-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 $60,590 in Salt Lake City. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $59,621 and $56,626 respectively. Hilo residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,836/month to housing in Hilo vs $1,414/month in Salt Lake City. In Hilo, median rent of $1,575/mo fits within this budget. In Salt Lake City, median rent of $1,500/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Utilities, where the gap is 130 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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