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

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in San Jose or is it cheaper to live in Hilo?
- San Jose is 75.1% more expensive than Hilo.

Which city has more affordable housing, San Jose or Hilo?
- San Jose housing costs are 216.7% more expensive than Hilo housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Hilo or is Health Care more affordable in San Jose.
- Health related expenses are 8.0% more in San Jose.
 Hilo, HISan Jose, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock231.0100
 Food & Groceries152.2  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock107.7100
 Housing135.3  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$1,184,400$338,100
 Utilities194  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock151.0100
 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 San Jose    90 Reviews

I've lived in west San Jose/Cambrian, between Los Gatos and Almaden SJ since 1997. This side of town somehow avoided the erosion of the American dream. Houses are  More

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I lived in San Jose for 40 years. That’s during the most exciting time when the Silicon Valley was booming with real technology and San Jose was ranked as the safest big  More

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Over 4 years ago

I've lived in San Jose, CA for 25 years. This city is being over run with crime and gangs. The cost of living is very high. Granted, you are so close to mountains,  More

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