Cost of Living on Oahu - How do millions do it. (Pearl City: leasing, appliances)

[MadRussian]

Originally Posted by A2M69

wow that's crazy...what is the square footage of your place?

I bet he lives on south shore - Kihei or Lahaina.

[HankDfrmSD]

Here are our electric bills on Oahu for the past couple of years - 2600 sq ft house, just two people most of the time - the number of KWH is about constant - $$$ have gone up as rates have gone up. Gas bill is separate:
<pre>
Date Num Cat Memo Clr Amount
8/1/2008 Send UTL:ELEC/AWA -319.08
7/3/2008 6537 UTL:ELEC/AWA -280.05
6/2/2008 6514 UTL:ELEC/AWA R -251.61
5/1/2008 6496 UTL:ELEC/AWA R -290.86
4/4/2008 6479 UTL:ELEC/AWA R -271.3
3/3/2008 6461 UTL:ELEC/AWA R -252.17
2/1/2008 6445 UTL:ELEC/AWA R -292.09
1/3/2008 6432 UTL:ELEC/AWA R -250.14
12/3/2007 6418 UTL:ELEC/AWA R -256.85
11/2/2007 6398 UTL:ELEC/AWA R -253.36
10/10/2007 6379 UTL:ELEC/AWA R -247.27
8/31/2007 6358 UTL:ELEC/AWA R -222.95
8/1/2007 6342 UTL:ELEC/AWA R -204.81
7/3/2007 6328 UTL:ELEC/AWA R -187.26
6/1/2007 6308 UTL:ELEC/AWA R -192.69
5/3/2007 6294 UTL:ELEC/AWA R -197.16
3/30/2007 6274 UTL:ELEC/AWA R -195.02
3/1/2007 6255 UTL:ELEC/AWA R -165.31
2/1/2007 6240 UTL:ELEC/AWA R -211.32
1/4/2007 6227 UTL:ELEC/AWA R -220.18
</pre>

[maui08]

We are currently in a 900 sq ft condo....and our elec bill is 450 per month. It is what it is here on Maui. Can't imagine what someone pays for a decent size home over here.

[MadRussian]

Originally Posted by maui08

We are currently in a 900 sq ft condo....and our elec bill is 450 per month. It is what it is here on Maui. Can't imagine what someone pays for a decent size home over here.

Where are you on Maui?

[alexei27]

Originally Posted by nullgeo

The difference is in the real estate mostly. Your NH $263K home is probably quite nice. I challenge you to find a home on Oahu, that you could even remotely stand to live in, for $310K. Hawaiians who have owned their homes for some time, can live easily on the salary you earn in NH. No big tricks other than sensible shopping, as you mention. The cost of living stats are high because they factor in this reality.

Hawaiian real estate is going through some "correction" (except Kauai), as is much of the rest of the country. Even on Oahu. And it is entirely likely to get yet more "corrected". However, you will still have a tough time finding an affordable residence in your range.

Good luck.

Excellent point. I am willing to bet that there is not a house on Oahu you'd want to live in that sells for $310K.

[dc1225]

Originally Posted by HankDfrmSD

Here are our electric bills on Oahu for the past couple of years - 2600 sq ft house, just two people most of the time - the number of KWH is about constant - $$$ have gone up as rates have gone up. Gas bill is separate:
<pre>
Date Num Cat Memo Clr Amount
8/1/2008 Send UTL:ELEC/AWA -319.08
7/3/2008 6537 UTL:ELEC/AWA -280.05
6/2/2008 6514 UTL:ELEC/AWA R -251.61
5/1/2008 6496 UTL:ELEC/AWA R -290.86
4/4/2008 6479 UTL:ELEC/AWA R -271.3
3/3/2008 6461 UTL:ELEC/AWA R -252.17
2/1/2008 6445 UTL:ELEC/AWA R -292.09
1/3/2008 6432 UTL:ELEC/AWA R -250.14
12/3/2007 6418 UTL:ELEC/AWA R -256.85
11/2/2007 6398 UTL:ELEC/AWA R -253.36
10/10/2007 6379 UTL:ELEC/AWA R -247.27
8/31/2007 6358 UTL:ELEC/AWA R -222.95
8/1/2007 6342 UTL:ELEC/AWA R -204.81
7/3/2007 6328 UTL:ELEC/AWA R -187.26
6/1/2007 6308 UTL:ELEC/AWA R -192.69
5/3/2007 6294 UTL:ELEC/AWA R -197.16
3/30/2007 6274 UTL:ELEC/AWA R -195.02
3/1/2007 6255 UTL:ELEC/AWA R -165.31
2/1/2007 6240 UTL:ELEC/AWA R -211.32
1/4/2007 6227 UTL:ELEC/AWA R -220.18
</pre>

LOL Hank...i love how you say "just two people" then 2600 sq. ft.! I'd say that's a pretty big place, especially in Honolulu!

[dc1225]

Originally Posted by maui08

We are currently in a 900 sq ft condo....and our elec bill is 450 per month. It is what it is here on Maui. Can't imagine what someone pays for a decent size home over here.

wow...that is ridiculous...that'd be enough for me to NOT want to live in Maui, not that I'd consider living in Maui anyways!

[Jazz_nh]

So thats Maui........ are the electric rates comparable on Oahu ?? I know people in 1 bedroom apartments paying $50.00 a month for electric on Oahu in downtown Honolulu

[serrow]

I live in Honolulu.

It's do-able. the press blows things out of proportion with quotes of $8 peanut butter. You have to remember that you make due with what you need.

I will say this. Most cities have cheap slummy areas? we do not. even the slummy areas are a bit spendy.

[whynot?]

Originally Posted by HankDfrmSD

Here are our electric bills on Oahu for the past couple of years - 2600 sq ft house, just two people most of the time - the number of KWH is about constant - $$$ have gone up as rates have gone up. Gas bill is separate:
<pre>
Date Num Cat Memo Clr Amount
8/1/2008 Send UTL:ELEC/AWA -319.08
7/3/2008 6537 UTL:ELEC/AWA -280.05
6/2/2008 6514 UTL:ELEC/AWA R -251.61
5/1/2008 6496 UTL:ELEC/AWA R -290.86
4/4/2008 6479 UTL:ELEC/AWA R -271.3
3/3/2008 6461 UTL:ELEC/AWA R -252.17
2/1/2008 6445 UTL:ELEC/AWA R -292.09
1/3/2008 6432 UTL:ELEC/AWA R -250.14
12/3/2007 6418 UTL:ELEC/AWA R -256.85
11/2/2007 6398 UTL:ELEC/AWA R -253.36
10/10/2007 6379 UTL:ELEC/AWA R -247.27
8/31/2007 6358 UTL:ELEC/AWA R -222.95
8/1/2007 6342 UTL:ELEC/AWA R -204.81
7/3/2007 6328 UTL:ELEC/AWA R -187.26
6/1/2007 6308 UTL:ELEC/AWA R -192.69
5/3/2007 6294 UTL:ELEC/AWA R -197.16
3/30/2007 6274 UTL:ELEC/AWA R -195.02
3/1/2007 6255 UTL:ELEC/AWA R -165.31
2/1/2007 6240 UTL:ELEC/AWA R -211.32
1/4/2007 6227 UTL:ELEC/AWA R -220.18
</pre>

By the way, MECO is a subsidiary of HECO. Here is a chart from HECO's own web site that lists their tiered charges per kWh. And there are, of course, taxes and surcharges and other assorted line items that add to the final bill. http://www.heco.com/portal/site/heco...l=0&ct=article