Cost of Living in Honolulu

The ongoing trend for migration to Hawaii is living on the beach as permanent campers. No taxes and no rent. Parolees from the U.S. mainland receive a one way ticket to anywhere there choose and many choose Hawaii as the weather is great and virtually no cost or a very low cost of living as the ancient hawaiians once did. Many of the military stay on Hawaii beaches once discharged from active duty. you also have the locals that save a ton of money by living the outdoor paradise lifestyle of yore. The laws and police are very weak in Hawaii so the worst thing that happens is campers get asked to vacate every so often and they just move camp elsewhere. You must be an outdoorsy type for this alternative lifestyle however it has become a very popular trend on the islands with hundreds of new outdoor residents relocating to Hawaii every month. Many buy an older and cheap van to sleep in as overnight street parking is permitted in many areas in Hawaii. Permanent campers use the beach bath houses for showers, sinks and toilets. Churches provide meals.

Aa expensive as San Francisco but more costs. Food higher by 66% or more. Milk for example is $6.33/gal. Rent high. Poor schools so private ones cost $29,000. Pay is much lower. No exports to speak of so shipping twice the cost. Farther out of city longer rush hour. Hard to save. Wages 35% lower as no industry. Tourism pays service jobs. Small business hell in regulation and taxes. Multi level sales tax called general excise tax charged on all transactions 4.7% if only sales tax 14% to get same money. High income taxes and rents. Unions have caused the workers to have two jobs to live. Twenty hours for part time jobs instead of 30 on continental US. Very liberal government as few GOP members elected or running. Major conflict and corruption in government is the result. Huge public city project for unneeded Rai costing 10 bill dollars for no change in traffic. Not ready for ten more years. Just visit or have rental property here.

Everybody thinks they'll just move to Oahu, nbd. But you are forgetting the cost of getting there AND the cost of getting out if you can't afford it. That is at least a ten thousand dollar ticket if you've only got a car and a small apartment's worth of stuff. Don't do it.

I dont know, I lived in Tokyo and Austin, TX. Both pretty expensive but seemed fine to me on 40k. I have a family (3 of us total). I am moving to Oahu and have a job lined up for 55k a year so I think we'll be fine.

I used to live there for 3 years (stationed). I will say, military/retired have it much easier. You can buy groceries on post at a significantly lower cost. Pump gas whenever near a base and save pergallon big time. I can honestly say, the only things I bought off post was surf gear, fast food at mom and pops, and the occasional night of partying. If you don't like the beach (a LOT) or don't like getting drunk it's probably no the paradise you dream of.

When I was there, many of my loacal friends struggled. Worked multiple jobs, still lived at home (with family) well into adulthood, or had several roommates. Unless you're rich, or have access to the bases, plan to spend 4K month minimum for "relative" comfort. If you have preconceived notion's of living the way you do on mainland, be prepared to give a lot of things up.

I may move back, but I understand fully what it takes to live there, and have a local support system (friends/family), but it isn't a move for the faint of heart. The beaches are beautiful if you're not living on them and starving.