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Looking to move later this year and my job will pay between $58,000 and $60,000. Final numbers are being calculated. I have a wife and two kids. My wife won't work to start, but she expects to soon after moving and salaries for her are in the $25,000 range.
I've gone apt hunting and found some 2-bed for $1100-$1300 per month. Found more expensive ones, but I'm wanting to stay cheaper. I have read about how expensive it is in Hawaii with food and taxes. So, can anyone please provide some advice about how much realistic take home pay I'd have after taxes, rent, insurance (my quote for family is over $600 per month)? Can I even make this possibility work without going broke?
Single people can move to the islands for fun and then move back to the mainland whenever. However, I'm a family man hooking up with an ideal job rather than worshiping the fact of living on the island. If I'm always broke, then it matter not where I live.
I hope the regulars aren't too sick of me chiming in, again. (they've all heard this time and again)
For a year I lived there and our combined salaries were about 100K.
We paid relocation there, paid relocation back.
We paid for about 4 round trip flights between Oahu & mainland. (3 kids and a funeral) We flew pets over, too.
We lived CHEAP. Didn't go out nights. Spent most of our off-time at the free beach.
We had a good bank balance when we came over and had about the same when we left.
We had a blast but we lived really cheaply and I'm not sure we could have done it a whole lot cheaper.
Hiura, PLEASE take the advice given over and over here -- don't rent anything sight unseen. What looks like a great deal on paper is probably a scam.
I assume that you've spent some time reading through the many posts on this forum about the cost of living in Hawaii. There are many things to factor in to your expenses in addition to taxes, rent and insurance. Also, there are cost of living comparison websites where you can compare Hawaii with where you live now.
I live on the Big Island and not Oahu, but from what I've read on City-Data there's no way that you can support a family of four on $60,000 a year. Is your wife's income of $25,000 guaranteed?
I live on Oahu (moved from Arizona), no dependents, 1 car, and I live simply. In other words, I treat myself to dinner in a mid-range restaurant twice a month. I do not buy clothes unless I have to, I don't get my haircut without a coupon, I turn off the lights and A/C unless it is absolutely necessary.
There is NO WAY I would want to live on this Island for $60k before taxes unless I had roommates. I don't want to live in a concrete box with a small window and a hot plate next to my bed, and worry every day if I'm going to make it each month financially. And there is no way I would do that to a family, just to have warm winters and regular beach time. No thanks.
I looked at a small rental house last week in "ok" shape on a busy street. Nothing special about it, no yard, for $3000/month plus utilities. The open house for that rental was packed full of people hoping for the chance to rent it. I have no idea where you are finding $1200/month rentals.
Even before you sleep your first night in a rental in Hawaii you will likely spend $15k just getting yourself, family, furniture, cars, all the way to the middle of the pacific ocean.
Hawaii is a beautiful place to visit if you have a few thousand.
Hawaii is a beautiful place to live if you have a few million.
The only real way to know if you can live in Hawaii - is to live in Hawaii! Your salary math doesn't seem realistic for a family of four - your wife working will help some (considering her salary would boost you living monies by 50%), but even with that your life style would, out of necessity, be pared to the bone. Is there any way the family can stay on the mainland for six months while you head over to Oahu? You'd risk much less that way and then determine for yourself if it's really doable and realistic.
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