Can I make it in Maui (Kahului, Kihei: apartment, rent, how much)

[baja1313]

Hi all I had posted a question before about being able to live on maui for 60k well my job offer was made and they have me at 57k. Will I be able to get a good place to live and not be pay check to pay check??? just me and my dog and I am pretty thrifty.

[whynot?]

It really depends upon your perceptions of "good place to live" and your habits that affect living "paycheck to paycheck." People certainly get by on less. It's a really big move if you've never lived in Hawaii before. I strongly suggest you visit if at all possible before you commit, to see where you'll be working, the housing options, etc. The money invested in the visit will only underscore the wisdom of your ultimate decision.

[JuliaHuff]

the move itself is very expensive. It deneds on how often you need to fly to mainland, or somewhere else. For us it is the biggest expense-airplane tickets.
you can rent something for $1k, plus car payment, food, bills, it wont leave much for extra activities, like visiting other islands. but you should be fine if you only plan to live on Maui. there is plenty of stuff you can do which is free, you dont need to buy clothes. you can buy a bike and save on gas.

[Calico Salsa]

I agree that it depends on how you live. You say you are thrifty, so that's a good sign. If you don't need to eat out a lot and don't have expensive habits, I think you'll be fine. Hopefully you won't have a long drive from home to work, with gas prices so high. Or you can take our new buses, which are AWESOME and actually cheaper than driving some routes.

There are really lots of free things to do, like the ukulele festival, whale celebration, and other fairs. You can go to the beach, watch the whales in February, buy a boogie board at a garage sale. Heck, buy a LOT of things at garage sales. I buy boards & coolers & snorkel gear, along with outdoor furniture and books and fun stuff.

Hopefully too your dog is not one that requires a lot of meds or special foods. Be sure to get heartworm medications going when you get here.

Check into shared housing if you want to save some rent money.

[hotzcatz]

With a take home of over $3K a month, you'd better be able to make it. You should be able to save $1K a month and still be able to make it if you are thrifty.

[michelle38]

You can rent an apartment, or share a place. You won't be buying a place. Ever. This is the reality of living in HI.

[JuliaHuff]

Calico,
do you have the bus map? where do they run?
We live in Wailuku, and we will be brining our parents there, they dont drive. It would be great if they could take a bus and be independent, it would be so wonderful!

[Calico Salsa]

Here's the bus info on the County website -
Maui County, HI - Official Website - Bus Service & Schedule Information

Gotta run, more soon.

[JuliaHuff]

thank you! they look great! new and green, how exciting! there are two destinations from Wailuku, which is great. and from there we can connet and get on another bus

[Calico Salsa]

We rode the bus from Maalaea Harbor up to Lahaina for dinner, and it was terrific. Clean and cool and comfortable and plenty of room. Only $1.00 per way, which was cheaper than if we drove, and no worries about parking or tickets (they are quick to ticket for parking meters expired up there).

You are limited as to how much stuff you can bring on board, and I think still no surfboards. But I believe they have a place to put your bike.

The buses should be fine for your parents to do a little riding around without you. They can go up to Lahaina to sightsee, or down here to Kihei/Wailea for beaches. Or into Kahului for a movie. They can go upcountry to Makawao too.

They really are awesome, and great timing with the gas prices. Maui County, job well done!