City Comparison
Pearl City vs Hilo
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Pearl City scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Pearl City
Hilo
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Hilo is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
19% lower than in Pearl City.
Housing costs are a major driver: Pearl City's average rent is
60% higher than Hilo's.
| Metric | Pearl City | Hilo | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $2,350 | $1,466 | +60% |
| Groceries | $520 | $600 | -13% |
| Utilities | $220 | $475 | -54% |
| Transport | $150 | $150 | 0% |
| Healthcare | $310 | $200 | +55% |
| Monthly Total | $3,550 | $2,891 | +23% |
| Cost Index | 170 | 146 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Pearl City offers 73% higher average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Pearl City delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Pearl City is estimated at
$68,000 vs $98,000 in Hilo.
| Metric | Pearl City | Hilo |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $72,000 | $41,708 |
| Salary Needed | $68,000 | $98,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 42,353 idx | 28,567 idx |
| Household Income | $92,500 | $81,779 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Pearl City runs warmer on average — a 76.2°F difference year-round.
For sunshine, Pearl City comes out ahead with 228 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Pearl City sees 0 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Pearl City | Hilo |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 76.20°F | °F |
| Summer High | 85.80°F | °F |
| Winter Low | 66.10°F | °F |
| Rainfall | 25.50 in | in |
| Snowfall | 0.00 in | in |
| Sunny Days | 228 | |
| Humidity | 68.00% | 75.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Hilo has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
2,000 minutes (33 hours) per year compared to Pearl City.
Pearl City scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Pearl City leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Pearl City | Hilo |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 31 min | 27 min |
| Transit Score | 48.0/100 | 20.0/100 |
| Walkability | 52.0/100 | 23.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 65.00 | 60.00 |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Hilo is the larger city
— approximately 0.9x the population of Pearl City.
From a growth perspective, Hilo is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Hilo has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Pearl City | Hilo |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 45,105 | 50,404 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.40% | 0.78% |
| Median Age | 39.5 | 42.7 |
| Unemployment | 3.80% | 3.50% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Pearl City
Advantages
Median home prices on Oahu have shown stabilization relative to mainland surges per recent real estate indexes.
Proximity to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam provides a robust employment base for military and civil service personnel.
Central Oahu location offers convenient highway access to downtown Honolulu and pristine windward beaches.
Neighborhoods feature low violent crime rates and strong community watch engagement.
Abundant access to outdoor recreation, including nearby hiking trails and coastal parks.
Drawbacks
Cost of living index is significantly higher than the U.S. national average due to shipping and housing costs.
Heavy peak-hour traffic congestion along the H-1 freeway during morning and evening commutes.
High electricity and utility rates compared to the U.S. mainland.
Limited inventory of affordable single-family housing options.
High dependency on imported goods leading to elevated grocery and everyday item prices.
Hilo
Advantages
Hilo boasts a lush, tropical environment with abundant natural beauty, including waterfalls and volcanic landscapes.
The city is a cultural hub, hosting significant events like the Merrie Monarch Festival, celebrating Hawaiian culture.
The job market in Hilo saw a healthy employment growth rate of 4.88% from 2023 to 2024.
Healthcare and Educational Services are strong and growing industries, offering stable employment opportunities.
The homeownership rate in Hilo is 66.1%, which is higher than the national average.
Drawbacks
The overall cost of living in Hilo is significantly higher than the national average, particularly for housing, utilities, and groceries.
Hilo has a high property crime rate, which is 41% higher than the national average, making residents more susceptible to theft.
Public transportation is minimal and unreliable, making the city largely car-dependent for daily errands and commutes.
Utility costs, especially for electricity, are exceptionally high due to reliance on imported fuel.
The average rent for apartments, particularly 1-bedroom and 2-bedroom units, is considerably higher than many mainland cities.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Pearl City
#527Hawaii, USA
50.6 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$2,350
Avg Salary
$72,000
Cost Index
170
Commute
31 min
Transit Score
48.0/100
Walkability
52.0/100
Sunny Days
228/yr
Avg Temp
76.20°F
Pop. Growth
0.40%
Unemployment
3.80%
Livability
76
Business
68
Hilo
#601Hawaii, USA
39.4 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,466
Avg Salary
$41,708
Cost Index
146
Commute
27 min
Transit Score
20.0/100
Walkability
23.0/100
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
0.78%
Unemployment
3.50%
Livability
70
Business
65
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