Living Costs : Hawaii vs. Japan

Two of the world’s most expensive cities to live in are Tokyo, Japan and Honolulu, Hawaii.   Compared to other cities in the United States (with the exception of  San Francisco and Los Angeles, California, or New York City, New York) cost of living expenses in Honolulu are almost triple of what you would spend in other cities on the mainland.

The reason for these high costs are pretty simple.  There are more people who want to live in Tokyo or Honolulu than there are places for them to live.  There is no shortage of persons wanting to move to these two exciting and beautiful cities. However, there is a major shortage of places to live in each of these cities.  It comes down to the basic principle of supply and demand. Where the supply is limited but demand is high then so is the cost.

Hawaii is probably one of the most desirable locations to live in the world.  In fact, it is more than likely it is a fantasy dream wish of most Americans to be able to live on these beautiful islands.   Honolulu is by far the most expensive of the cities in state of Hawaii. With the main attraction being tourism and the major city development on the island it is a big draw for those looking to move there for the best of both worlds, that is to say, city life and island life side by side.  

The main issue with the high cost of living in Hawaii is the cost of housing.  Whether you decide to buy a property or rent, you will be paying a pretty penny.   As of 2018 the average median price to buy a single family home in Hawaii was $795,000.   The average median price of a condominium was around $410,000. After purchasing your home don’t forget to add in additional expenses for annual property taxes and homeowners association fees if you have a condominium.

Average rent in Hawaii (Oahu) will vary based on location but expect to pay around $ 1,670 for a one bedroom apartment.  A single studio apartment in Waikiki will run you around $1,400 to $1,700. If you are in need of more space an average two bedroom apartment will cost you about $2,375.

In Japan, living expenses can also be very high.  In Tokyo, rents are actually comparable to what you pay in Waikiki.  One website that calculates cost of living comparisons between cities found that Tokyo rents were actually around 8% higher than in Honolulu.  However, after balancing out the rest of the expenses between the two cities, the final analysis found Honolulu slightly more expensive. A main factor was transportation costs in which Tokyo was found to be 31 % less costly for transportation than Honolulu.  Tokyo has excellent public transportation trains, subways and buses which accounts for the lower costs. Honolulu was found only 5% more expensive than living in Tokyo.

One reason for additional savings in Tokyo is that food is relatively cheap and costs of insurance are also much less.  In Japan everyone pays into the healthcare system so the healthcare is very affordable. There is also no need for a car so there are no expenses for car insurance or car payments.  Utilities payments are also lower in Japan than in Hawaii. On average the monthly utility payment in Hawaii is around $266.00 per month for two people. In Tokyo utilities costs for two people average around $180.00.

Is the cost of living unreasonably high? Well, you need to consider what it is you are paying for.  To live in Hawaii the quality of life is what you are paying for. Wonderful weather, beautiful islands, clean water and air and some of the best beaches, mountains and natural surroundings on the planet.   For many, in the final analysis there is no price that can be put on the quality of life to be found in the beautiful islands of Hawaii.

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