Cost of Food (Honolulu: fit in, sales, houses)

[Micho]

I am considering moving to Honolulu - just want to confirm approximately what I could expect for cost of groceries for one person and/or restaurants...e.g. what is the price of a meal compared to mainland prices? Are there cheaper places to get your groceries or eat?
Thanks and Aloha

[whynot?]

Well, I hate to say this, but "it depends." It depends, largely, on where you're moving from. If you're moving from LA or another good-sized city, groceries and restaurants are not (necessarily) too much more expensive. Although most things have to be shipped here, so as the price of oil goes up, so does the cost of that portion of any item's price.

It also depends on what you eat. And where. A good amount of produce is grown in Hawaii, and there's always plenty of fresh fruit and fish. Restaurants are all over the place from fast food and "local grinds" to exorbitant. Cost-of-living indices on the web show anything from a 5% "Hawaii penalty" to a 40% increase, depending upon the kinds of expenses that you actually incur. (These include costs-of-living for food, housing, healthcare, education, transportation, etc., and not everybody pays for everything on the lists.)

There's no sales tax, but there is an excise tax on some items and services, and there is a partially-refundable tax on bottled and canned beverages.

I have houses in two states, and Hawaii is definitely more expensive, but more so in the cost of housing, gasoline, personal services, utilities ($$$$$!), and large consumer goods than in groceries and modest eating out.

[Micho]

noted - thanks for responding!

[Brav989]

Check the search function. Was quite a large thread on this subject while back.

[POI DOG]

Cost of living is not the problem. Bigger problem is finding a good paying job. If you are transfering with your employer, no sweat but if you just want to move and find a job, you can plan on making much less than on the Mainland.

Ship everything you can fit into your car because it is less expensive. You can buy furniture once you are there.

Living and eating like a local is great! Just stay away from the tourist type places and you will be loving life.

[SouperStar34]

Originally Posted by Micho

I am considering moving to Honolulu - just want to confirm approximately what I could expect for cost of groceries for one person and/or restaurants...e.g. what is the price of a meal compared to mainland prices? Are there cheaper places to get your groceries or eat?
Thanks and Aloha

I have lived in Michigan and Chicagoland all my life.

I have just recently travelled through Canada.

I am currently visiting Honolulu.

The prices of Honolulu are similar to Canada.

[HankDfrmSD]

Originally Posted by Brav989

Check the search function. Was quite a large thread on this subject while back.

What does food really cost in Hawaii?

[davin]

i was reading the paper last week and it says to expect milk to hit 10.00 a gallon in the near future.

[kellywilliams]

Wow, I took a look at the ads HankD posted. Those are exactly the same as the prices we pay here in Alaska. I feel better now, I'm already used to that! Thanks HankD.