Cost of Living in Honolulu

If your here trying to raise a family and your household income is under $100,000 a year consider moving to the mainland. If you're not in the islands already, consider not coming. There are a lot of great things about Hawaii, but the prices of food, housing, electricity and daily living are pretty crazy. If you have a household income of only 50,000 - 80,000 a year and you don't already own property here you will probably be living pay check to pay check, unless you are single and have kids, you'll end up nearly broke living here.

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.