2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Hilo, HI vs Monterey, CA

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Monterey or is it cheaper to live in Hilo?
- Monterey is 15.2% more expensive than Hilo.

Which city has more affordable housing, Monterey or Hilo?
- Monterey housing costs are 146.3% more expensive than Hilo housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Hilo or is Health Care more affordable in Monterey.
- Health related expenses are 44.1% more in Monterey.
 Hilo, HIMonterey, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock151.9100
 Food & Groceries152.2  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock143.7100
 Housing135.3  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$1,022,100$338,100
 Utilities194  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock92.1100
 Miscellaneous108.3  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for Hilo    10 Reviews

If you’re looking at Hilo, then you’re likely being recruited in the medical or education fields. These are where the greatest needs of the community lie, and there are  More

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Over 4 years ago

I enjoyed living in Hawaii County for a number of years, most in Hilo. While Hilo has problems, they are few compared to mainland USA. I never experienced racism by  More

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Over 4 years ago

Too much racism from "native Hawaiians" who aren't actually natives. That keeps me from living in that paradise. I'm this is the "natives" goal.  More

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Reviews for Monterey    21 Reviews

Over 8 years ago

The Monterey city area is an excellent place to live and one of the few California locales where it's relatively safe to raise a family. If I could no longer live here I  More

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I grew up on the Monterey Peninsula and had to leave to climb out of poverty. The median income is $35,000 and outside of the military, the jobs are mostly service  More

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My husband and I are just crazy about Monterey. I wonder if we take housing expenses (mortgage or rent) out of the picture, is Monterey still a very expensive city to  More

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