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This is a little funny, but by the end of May I am moving from the north Boston area to the Big Island. It's going to be a huge change for me, but I think I can assure you that in some regards, you made the right choice. I live north of Lynn, but I assure you, Lynn is not the place you'd want to live in.
Wow, I am beginning to look better and better to my wife ! I am feeling happier with the decision that we have made...eventhough it will be tougher without the extra money.
As to your question...it all depends on the life style you wish to lead...In my openion, on the low end you would need about $30,000 in mid range you would need about $50,000...anything else above that for a single person is bonus!
Location: Was in Western New York but now in Hilo Hawaii
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Im glad you are feeling better about your choice. The cost of living in Boston isnt tat much lower if at all than Hawaii if you take all into consideration cold, heat, some food like avocados ate like $2 and up ea.
In my book you made the right move but if you can get more from your wife then more power to you shh i didnt say that
What is your definition of reality? And what sort of issues?
Me personally no, I wouldn't. After I graduate dental school, I may possibly emigrate to France to work there as a dentist. Avg salary in USD in US is about $187,000 for a general dentist, and with the current exchange rate is about $100,000 USD in France. France would cost more and tax more, but on the flip side I'd only work 35 hours a week as standard and 5 weeks paid leave a year by law. Any hour over 35 is converted into vacation pay (so at say 40 hours a week for the 47 weeks a year you work, you'd gain about 235 hours of leave (or another 7 weeks of leave in addition to the minimum 5). That of course comes at a cost in terms of pay, but I'd personally like to have a better quality and more free time to actually do something with my life other than be a slave to an employer.
Kind of wandered off the trail of the original topic, but I was I guess trying to show that money is certainly not everything or maybe really anything depending on where/who you are.
Actually the national average for a general dentist is like 135000 in the united states but typically you will start out at like 115000. You could reach the 185000 mark later if you desired by starting your on practice. Starting out at 185000 would be more than a doctor would make coming out of medical school. Also the exchange rate from dollar to euro is not to bad at 1.32 or .7557 which if you were making 185000 you would come out at like 140000 not 100000. But in france its much lower more like 80000 at the highest with bonuses. Which would equate to around 60000 exchange rate. So for someone to go through with all the schooling and practice just to make 60000 would be a waste of time and money. I would stick to the states which pays the highest for any profession and stay out of the socialist sects if you want to retire at a young age. Just a thought
Lynn is not the place you'd want to live in. There are nicer communities around the area, but Lynn is not one of them.
Lynn, Lynn, city of sin... you never come out the way you went in.
In answer to your other question, I moved to Honolulu from the Boston area (I was in Cambridge, Brighton, Brookline, and Providence, RI over the several years before coming here). Worked in Lynn for a few summers. Anyway, my initial rent here (2br/2ba) was comparable to what I paid in Brighton. The place was not as nice in some ways (high rise instead of 2-family with yard) but nicer in others (big lanai, ocean views). Food costs more, but there are easy ways to keep food costs down if you're willing to make an effort. And the entertainment is free! Hiking, swimming, etc.
I don't know how expenses compare between here and the BI... I would guess that rent there will be cheaper but food prices higher? Just a guess. Best of luck.
I don't know how the cost of living and pay scales are in each place. My guess is that cost of living is higher in Hawaii but salaries are also higher. It would then depend on how much higher or lower.
I beg your pardon. Show me one job in HI that pays more than its mainland counterpart. I was a cop in HNL. Here is what HPD starts out: As of July 1, 2009: $48,336 per year. Typical SF Bay Area departments start out at around $70,000 and up. Top pay in San Jose is around $100,000. Since HI has about a 25% higher COL, that $48K in HI is equal to earning $36K in San Jose.
I now drive for VTA, the local transit authority. I earn a base pay of $57K with all benefits free. But nobody I know earns only the base. Some drivers continuously earn $100K and more. I average about $78K. Reason is there is so much overtime available. For example I will work all major holidays except two. Each holiday will pay me 20 hrs pay for 8 hr work. I think the transit drivers for The Bus earn around $16.00 an hour. Our mechanics earn over $35.00 an hour. The Bus mechanics earn around $20.00 an hour.
I don't know what minimum wage is in HI currently but around here it's around $10.00. Even fast-food workers earn as much as $12.00 an hour. That's *starting* pay.
I have two nieces that have just started their careers. One has a doctorate in pharmacy (PharmD) and one is a PA (Physician's Assistance). Each earn about $112,000. Again, that's *starting* pay! Both are in S. CA.
Still, Boston is an expensive area. Boston is very crowded, <snip>
We've visited Boston twice. We *loved* it there. Toured the area from Andover, E. to Rockport and down to Boston. Absolutely beautiful area. But I wouldn't live there, lol.
<snip> The ocean is not nearly as well-suited for swimming or surfing as Hawaii even in summer months. Beaches are less frequent than rocky coastlines.
But you can't beat the lobster from the cold waters of the Atlantic! There is no lobster in HI that compares with "Maine" lobster.
<snip>
You will have four seasons which include spectacular autumns.
We have not visited during the fall, but plan to do so soon. I've heard New England fall colors are something to behold.
<snip>
So the answer really does come down to what YOU yourself value and what you will want out of the place in which you live.
I can't say about the Boston area, but in CA there is so much more, such as spectacular National Parks, awesome scenic highways (Big Sur, Northern CA Redwood 101 and Hwy 1 coast) We also have many ski resorts, and of course Reno and Las Vegas.
It didn't take $30,000 for us to move here. I have since bought two houses, one in San Jose, one in Highland, Utah, and about to buy a third house in the CA Delta area so I can be close to the Delta waters where I have a 31' Regal boat. Plus part owner of a horse ranch in Napa where we are going for the weekend. We love HI and visit HI periodically to visit relatives. But I would never live there.
Eddie
My husband was military and we have lived all over. I would live in Hawaii again in a heartbeat. I LOVED almost everything about it. The beaches/ocean are wonderful and warm (don't get that in CA or the north east). I don't think you can compare places too much because they are different. California and many other states have lots of neat places to visit, but you can always take a trip there from the islands. No offense to California as I do like many aspects of it, but I do find the feel of Hawaii more down to earth and less about money, looks, and status. The pace of life is slower in Hawaii than on the mainland, but they are progressive in many ways. There are some from Hawaii that don't like "the mainlanders" or white people, but most of the people were very nice.
The housing and food are the biggest expense, but heck-you pay almost that much in a big city on the east or west coast. And-you can really be outside most of the year.
Location: Was in Western New York but now in Hilo Hawaii
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What Dreemcatcher said!
I grew up in Calie and really Vegas id just as far away by plane ad i is to drive from L A if you dont hit traffic. I would trade a Hawaiian sunset over any Calie sunset any day! Also with al the talk about the dont like the white people n Hawaii its so much better than Calie.
I can't say about the Boston area, but in CA there is so much more, such as spectacular National Parks, awesome scenic highways (Big Sur, Northern CA Redwood 101 and Hwy 1 coast) We also have many ski resorts, and of course Reno and Las Vegas.
It didn't take $30,000 for us to move here. I have since bought two houses, one in San Jose, one in Highland, Utah, and about to buy a third house in the CA Delta area so I can be close to the Delta waters where I have a 31' Regal boat. Plus part owner of a horse ranch in Napa where we are going for the weekend. We love HI and visit HI periodically to visit relatives. But I would never live there.
Eddie
Ed...when did you move to CA and how does Cali compare to let's say Maui?
Location: Was in Western New York but now in Hilo Hawaii
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Well i live in So Cal up until 5 years ago theres a huge difference....
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! I am feeling happier with the decision that we have made...eventhough it will be tougher without the extra money. 
. The cost of living in Boston isnt tat much lower if at all than Hawaii if you take all into consideration cold, heat, some food like avocados ate like $2 and up ea. 
shh i didnt say that
