There are many reasons why people decide to relocate to Hawaii, such as the weather, beauty or just because they want a peaceful environment to live in. When you are planning to move to Hawaii, it is important that you know about the housing, cost of living and the job market in order to properly prepare for the move.
Cost of Living
When you take Hawaii and compare it to other states, then you will find that the cost of living is much higher. Therefore, it is vital that you know whether you can afford to move and live in Hawaii before doing so. Forbes Magazine named Honolulu is considered the fifth expensive place to live in the US. Other popular tourist locations such as East Oahu carry increasingly high prices in regard to the cost of living. Also, consider that Hawaii imports almost every product which means that you are looking at paying around 50% more than any other state in the US. Gas prices in Hawaii are also the highest that can be found anywhere in the United States.
Housing
The average cost of buying a house in Hawaii is going to be around $400,000, while those who rent can expect to pay around $1,800 per month. These statistics are found in the March 2010 article in Forbes Real Estate Advisor. Most of those who move to Hawaii go to the island of Oahu, since it is the most popular place to find a job and is full of entertainment. In Oahu there are many more jobs available, however, the housing in the area is some of the most expensive found anywhere in Hawaii. For those looking for lower rental prices, then they should consider Kauai and Maui.
Job Market
Most of the jobs in Hawaii deal with the tourism sector. However, there are also jobs available in the retail, construction, health care, agriculture, federal and green sectors. According to the 2010 report from the Hawaii Labor Market Dynamics, Hawaii is 42nd in the US in terms of labor size and population. The biggest month salary goes to those workers between the ages of 45 to 54, and they make around $3,896.
