Moving to Hawaii – The Price of Island Life

To many visitors, the sticker shock of the islands can be very discouraging. In Hawaii we pay a little more for everything, including our milk, gas, electric, insurance, groceries, and basic goods. So, what’s so great about be stranded here on a little rock in the middle of the sea? Costs aside, Hawaii is one of the healthiest and happiest places to live in our country, and considerably one of the best places in the world. I’m not being bias, just rather honest.

Here we are surrounded by beauty, and are well-balanced in nature. From the cool mountain ranges, cowboy pastures, lush valleys, and all the way down to our pristine beaches, we truly have all the greatness paradise has to offer.

In Hawaii we have a sense of belonging. Everybody knows your name and are generally very welcoming. We have small towns and tight-knit communities, making it rather safe. Crime rates are low and people are pretty good at looking out for one another.

Another undeniable fact is the perfect weather. Here we are statistically exposed to much less pollutants. And what pollutants there are (be from natural causes, cars, and other modern developments), we have the trade winds to help clear the air continuously. Even being out in the middle of the Pacific Ocean where there can be hurricane threats, our tall mountain ranges are great at breaking up nasty weather conditions, and hurricanes are rather rare. Seasons change, but the weather stays rather steady, and you’ll never be freezing over the winter.

Living in Hawaii – It’s Worth the Price Tag

When it comes down to the cost of living here, you need to understand that living on an island means that many of the products you buy from any superstore are shipped in. With the high cost of shipping, it’s understandable that everything in your shopping cart is a little more expensive.

Hawaii also has one of the highest cost for electricity among our nation, at roughly 36 cents a kilowatt hour. Let’s just say that it’s roughly a whole quarter more than in the mainland. And with a home typically running about 800 kilowatt hours a month, you can easily expect at least another hundred stacked on your monthly bill. Once again we need to thank the high costs of shipping for the fuel we import in order to generate our electric.

Though the cost of homes can range on the higher-end as well, real estate has lately become much more financially friendly, along with much lower interest rates. And while that’s always subject to change, it’s still a great time to consider a move.

So while we lack many of the city conveniences, like the subway, mega-malls, and a bustling nightlife, there are many other valuable trade-offs in their place. So don’t let the sticker price discourage you. While the cost of living may be higher, so also is your quality of life. And for those still stuck weighing their options on making the move, the scales might just surprise you.