Cost of Living in Honolulu

My husband and I currently live in Los Angeles. We have no kids and no family really. He has an offer of moving to Hawaii with a salary of 100-110k but we've been looking at the cost of living which is higher than Los Angeles from what I've looked. we pretty much just want some advice if we should do it or not. we want a change and we adapt to pretty much everything. we would like some opinions. thanks!

If you want to live conformably in Hawaii you needs to be in the Military or be a civilian working for the Department of Defense. The main reason why we have high rents and low wages is because the State & Federal Government uses the Military Rent Plus program and part time hiring of military to keep rent high and wages low. This makes it next to impossible to live on a entry level wages. I've lived in Hawaii for more then 55 years and make $80,000 as a DoD mechanic and I consider my self middle class. I didn't recommend moving to Honolulu if you have kids and yours not in the Military. But you can find a lot lower rents if you take your time looking. Before you move here try to find a job that pay more then $15.00 a hour and housing close to your work. We have a lot of Homeless so you will need a trade or at a least a BA degree to live here.

What is with the people who already plan on moving there, asking about jobs? If you haven't found a job there yet, why would you move??? Try planning before you decide to become a homeless sleeping on the sidewalk in Waikiki.

For the fools who are thinking of moving to Oahu___DONT......You will only be sorry from the time you rent a 1 bedroom apt for $1400/month plus electric. Car registration is twice of anywhere else, gas is always second highest in country. Food is outrageous at the grocery stores, so I use costco and sams club mainly. Jobs are a joke, ------ you have to be in a union to stand a chance and 2 weeks takehome pay is needed to pay the rent.I've been here since 1984, leaving twice before, because of lack of work here. Traffic--- it's worse than san diego, ...you can't go anywhere without getting stuck in gridlock. They want more tourists to pay ridiculous prices, and leave, appealing more to Japan and China than Americans, which just makes the overcrowding even worse. I'm leaving permenantly in a couple months, never to return!!! The air pollution is terrible from VOG and car exhaust leaving windows with a Black soot constantly. The rail job theyre building is a joke, saying it will relieve highway traffic....hahahahahaaa . It's already 1.2 billion overbudget and only 11 miles of 20 done, and theyve raised excise tax to pay it. That will be permanent soon. Union pay is comparable to Michigan scale, but Cost living is 3-4 times. Beaches are overcrowded, no parking when you want to go to town, and city planning is a joke. Always save enough to get out of here, because you'll need an escape plan when the big HAWAII fantasy, takes a reality check. The local element is also a problem, being quite prejudiced, and lowly educated. Lots of thieves, car breakins, and punk action.

#troy #Nick There is no way you will make $3000-$4000 or more per month in Hawaii unless 1) you know someone and have connections or 2) You are a doctor or 3) work 60- 80 hours per week or 4) you sell drugs, body, or both. Hawaii is not for those who want to make money and live lavish lives unless you are already rich. Each one of us struggle daily to pay the rent. Right now, I'm visiting the food banks because my income has not been enough. Over 2500 people come each week for food here. If you come here without a plan, friends, or family, you better have money for a plane ticket back home in case things don't turn out the way you anticipated.

Average home cost here is now above 700k. Min utilities for a single family are sewer -90 per month base water another 90 - electric 170 min.
The only saving grace is low property taxes!

Kimo- Eliminating the Jones Act would make a very minimal impact on the average person and barely be felt. This state rakes in a ton of cash off tourism, but just like every other ripoff here, the money is directed into a very few pockets. Look at your local politicians, union bosses etc... .Classic examples, any union, like Hawaii Stevedores, a 6 figure job based purely on who one knows. These guys have the power to shut down all goods entering the state over bs. Want the real culprits of the high cost of living here, look no further than the old boy networks of nepotism and cronyism.

I lived in Hawaii when i was young. Still thinking of moving there. Cost of living seems ok to me. I use yo sit and watch the people. we will see. Aloha!

It's pretty bad overall but you can manage to live here if you plan ahead. Check our Hawaii Living Guide: https://lookintohawaii.com/hawaii/45383/hawaii-living-getting-started-information-all-islands-hi

Me and my wife are very interested on moving to Hawaii. And looking for a nice place to raise our baby and would like for anyone to give any type of advice.

Hello I am moving to oahu and am in need of a well paying job, probably like $3000-$4000 a month due to the high cost of living. Are there any companies open that pay that good or is that the normal for income on the island?

Wendell Abbey

since you have lived on Hawaii can you please contact me via e-mail, since i would like to move their too. I would have a few questions to ask if you dont mind. Please contact me, thanks in advance, greetings Peter

Looking to move to Honolulu. I recently graduated with my EMT Cert and would like to eventually become a PM then RN. Would it be wiser to do my PM training here in FL or should I make the move, begin working as an EMT and train down there? I know they have Equivilency Forms which is how I plan to transfer my EMT credits.

#Kimmi B. Look towrard Makakilo, Millilani, Kaneohe or parts of Ewa. Stay away from Section 8 here. Avoid Waipahu, Makaha, Waianae, Kalihi.

There truly is no middle class in Honolulu. It cost $1200 for the cheapest studio that would be considered (projects) or low income housing on the mainland. You either live in a slum, or you live in a Million dollar home.

Your best option would be to find a room for rent in a family home...they have many houses with "ohana or inlaw suites). These will still range from $700-$900 per month.

The only way we survive here is by sharing housing with others. I have 5 roommates and i'm almost 40 years old and make $60k a year.

Electricity at our house is almost $1000 monthly on the highest end, but $500 monthly on the lowest end. Our KWH rate is almost 3x what people pay in the mainland.

This would be tolerable if there were jobs for people that payed higher wages. There are not many jobs here...you have to be local/bi lingual to work at many of the resorts. You have to be good looking to work in the bars.

If youre coming from the east coast, you will find the work easy...the work ethic here is unbelievalbly lazy compared to the east coast.

Bottom line...its beautiful...its expensive, its hot, its humid, full of BIG ROACHES & RATS (even the million dollar homes are infested)

After 10 years, I'm finally wising up and leaving this paradise. Goodluck.