living cost Hilo vs Honolulu (school, university, price)

[emtwo]

Hi

I am considering going to grad school in either Hilo or Honolulu. From the little I have seen it appears that Hilo is moderately less expensive than Honolulu. Is that true? What are expenses like in these locations. I will be moving form Missoula Montana and am trying to prepare myself

Thanks a bunch,
Em

[cwm]

I think the cost of living is less in Hilo than Honolulu, particularily for food and rent. Gasoline and utlilites are probably the same. In Hilo there is a lot of local food - fish, beef, eggs, veggies and fruit that is locally grown which makes it easier to find less expensive healthy food. Food shipped in from the mainland is probably the same. If you live near UH Hilo, you can get by without a car and save as well.
Good luck on your decision.

[emtwo]

CWM.. thank you that is really helpful information, especially concerning being able to find more fresh food in Hilo and being able to go without a car.

Very helpful!
Em

[LFSH]

Hey, I am having the opportunity to go study in UH Hilo, but I am still hesitating. Can you guys please help me!I am a 20 years old international, am gonna be playing for the tennis team so it will probably keep me busy but I am still wondering if life is not gonna get boring since it's an island or if i ll like life there, and if it is expensive to go to honolulu or CA from there.

[hotzcatz]

Hilo is a lot more rural than Honolulu. The entire island of Hawaii (aka "the Big Island") is rural, there are no cities on the island, just towns. Hilo is getting a lot more university student presence to it, so there are more things for the younger folks but essentially Hilo is a rural town and not cosmopolitan at all. Hilo may actually be easier to meet folks since there aren't so many of them jammed into one spot so folks take the time to see each other and chat. On Oahu, everyone is so busy they just don't even see each other.

For bar hopping night life, Honolulu is a much livelier spot. You can fly over to Honolulu fairly easily from Hilo and airfare fluctuates from $29 each way to around $70 each way depending on the airlines current price wars.

[Boxcar Overkill]

I had no idea the flights were that cheap. Very interesting.

[SagDreamer]

Hi Em,

I live in Salmon, ID and am always visiting Missoula. I love that town! Plus it's the only place to get sushi within a day's drive. We are also looking moving to an area near Hilo. Having visited both Hilo and Honolulu, I would say if you like Missoula then you would probably like Hilo much better. We do. Honolulu is too crowded, too busy, top touristy, and too urban. Nothing like that in Montana or Idaho to compare to. If you find Missoula to be sleepy and too slow for you then Honolulu would be a better choice. Good luck.