The price of living in Hawaii has skyrocketed in the past years causing many people to move out then move in.
The cost of living of Hawaii has pushed many locals to move elsewhere due to the prices surging. As time goes on many people are moving out of the state of Hawaii rather than in. In most cases if you ask why, the majority will say that the cost of living here is too expensive. In Hawaii, many of the locals are moving to Las Vegas, Nevada, or, as they call it, the “Ninth Island”. The increase of people from Hawaii moving to Las Vegas has inclined and will keep climbing. For example, five hundred thousand dollars could get you a two story house in Las Vegas. However, in Hawai’i, you will probably be able to buy a house or possibly a two bedroom apartment. You can see the major difference between the two different places. Moreover, the cost of essential needs in Las Vegas compared to the cost of essential needs in Hawaii could have a difference of just a couple of dollars to just a couple of cents. However, although it might just be a little difference it can go a long way.
Table of Content
1.Cost of Housing
2. Essential Needs
4. Hawaii to Mainland
5.References
Cost of Housing
The cost of owning a house in Hawaii has only been rising. Back in 2017, “The median price for Oahu single-family houses climbed 4.6 percent to a record $795,000 in June” (Dave, 2017). The median cost of a single family home living in Hawaii in 2017 was $795,000. In August 2021, that median cost rose to $1,050,000. According to Hawaii News Now, “The median price of a single-family home on Oahu hit a new record high of $1,050,000 in August ― which is 25% higher than the same month last year” (HNN, 2021). With an increase of $262,500, the price of living has taken a traumatic increase in just that past year. Not only is it expensive to own a house but it is also expensive to rent a single family home, but the price may vary depending on the amount of bedrooms. According to COMPASS, the average cost of renting a house with “Three-bedrooms | $2,100 - $2,600” (COMPASS, 2020). Renting and owning in Oahu, Hawaii can cost an arm and a leg.
Essential needs (Food, Gas, etc.)
Not only is the cost of living expensive but also the cost of food. Honolulu, Hawaii placed number one for top ten states with the highest food costs. The cost was about $560, “the average Honolulu resident pays $556.76 for groceries every month. That’s over $200 more than the national average of $355.50” (Roberts, 2021). In Hawaii, the early morning traffic and the afternoon rush can be bumper to bumper. Just this year June 2021 gas prices were almost $4, “In Honolulu, a survey of 214 gas stations in the area showed that prices have risen 3.9 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $3.91 per gallon” (KHON2, 2021). The price of gas has risen and will continue to rise. However cost of essential needs can vary sometimes depending on the situation of what is happening in the mainland. Shipping ports are how many things come to Hawaii. For example, toilet paper is the one thing that the local people first grab when there's a storm coming and if the state goes on lock down. During the cold lock down in the state of Hawaii, toilet paper was like gold. It was what many people needed and many were reselling for a tremendous amount.
Hawaii to Mainland
The price of living in Hawaii has caused many locals to move out of the place that they call home. “U.S. Census Bureau data released today shows Hawaii’s population declined in fiscal 2020 by 8,609, which is more than the previous year, when the state suffered a net population loss of 7,487.” (Grassroot, 2020). In this case many locals move out of Hawaii for different reasons: economic, financially, or family problems. It has been a problem that has been going on for many years. The people of Hawaii have been facing many challenges with the cost of living forcing many to get out.
Links related
References edit
- Akina, K. (2021, July 9). Why are residents leaving Hawaii? Grassroot Institute of Hawaii. Retrieved November 19, 2021, from https://www.grassrootinstitute.org/2018/12/why-are-residents-leaving-hawaii/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIt-GU3e-A9AIV6fvICh1KTQiYEAAYASAAEgJ82PD_BwE.
- by, W., & Roberts, J. (2021, November 16). How much does food cost in the US? Move.org. Retrieved November 20, 2021, from https://www.move.org/the-average-cost-of-food-in-the-us/.
- Carpenter, M., Staff, H. N. N., Martinez, J., Lund, C., Solina, S., Daysog, R., Ancheta, D., Ramos, C., Gutierrez, B., Nagaoka, A., & Blair, A. (n.d.). Priced out of Paradise. https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com. Retrieved November 20, 2021, from https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/news/investigate/priced-out-of-paradise/.
- Grassroot Institute of Hawaii. (2020, December 31). News release: Hawaii has third-fastest population decline in nation. Grassroot Institute of Hawaii. Retrieved November 20, 2021, from https://www.grassrootinstitute.org/2020/12/news-release-hawaii-has-second-fastest-population-decline-in-nation/.
- Hofschneider, A. (2015, September 1). Living hawaii: Priced out of Paradise - where $600K is a bargain home. Honolulu Civil Beat. Retrieved November 20, 2021, from https://www.civilbeat.org/2014/01/20844-living-hawaii-priced-out-of-paradise-where-600k-is-a-bargain-home/.
- Zillow.com. (n.d.). Retrieved November 20, 2021, from https://www.zillow.com/home-values/.