Wherever you move to in the world can work out being a little more expensive to live in, or maybe sometimes a little cheaper to live in depending on where you go. Gasoline (at Costco anyway) is relatively comparable in So Cal. Food is somewhat more in Hawaii. But like you said, you have to become much more frugal with your spending and eating habits and where you get your food. GOOD friends with GOOD trees is GOOD to have on the island!! And once all the pros and cons of living on the island are truly considered, you gotta really think about the fact that you're in Hawaii! Sure, it may cost a little more to live here, but you're still in Hawaii!! :D Thanks for another great video!
One thing my husband and I noticed as being new jersey locals our whole life is that the big island cost almost as much as nj!!!! there is a saying in nj "if you move out of NJ you may not be able to afford to come back." i found the differences to be as follows. *house Rentals around me 1800-2000 a month Big island 2000 *taxes in my lake community 6000 a year for one Acer, big island mt view $200 a year per Acer *gas at its height when I traveled to Hawaii was 3.98 a gallon in NJ, it was 4.20 in Hawaii *milk 4.99 in NJ, Hawaii 6-7 bucks *heating costs $500 in wood or $1950 in heating oil a year, Hawaii cost nada apples to apples nj is very close to already living in Hawaii wear we get a break you may get taxed vice versa for us we are looking on the Hilo side, not the Kona just to clarify.
Great video. Thanks. Since the pandemic, I've been making my own no-knead bread. A one kilo loaf costs four cups of flour, a teaspoon of yeast, two teaspoons of salt and the gas to cook it. Much better than the $8 per loaf that I was paying.
I actually drive a lot more here on Big Island than I did on the mainland. I lived without a car for many years on the mainland because public transportation was so good in the city I lived in. Here however a car seems like a necessity to me and I am spending more time driving than I ever imagined I would when I moved here 7 months ago.
That is one thing we desperately need on this island is better public transportation. You DO need a car here. We helped a couple buy a home and after escrow closed, the new homeowner asked where the bus stop was. The County is working on it,,,,
I live in Oregon for 6 more months then I move to Hawaii. Cost of living here cost us around 3500 a month. That’s rent electric water garbage internet cable and food and gas. But when we get to our property our cost of living will drop to 1300 a month. That’s land payment cell phone and insurance. We will be off the grid and that’s saving us a lot of money. Plus I’m playing it smart and I’ve been stocking up on box and can goods plus shampoo ect. And plan on raising chickens and other animals for food. We know certain things will cost more we are expecting it but if I’ve planned smart I should have a leg up on some of the cost of things
Great breakdown hopefully this helps a lot of people. I've met a few people that moved there without proper research and no real plan. There's a lot of people that want to stay super comfortable A.C high electric usage etc just won't make it, the person I know that moved there lasted about 8 months.
Love your channel. Regarding purchasing in east Hawaii or HPP really, the largest subdivision in the world with many Canadian snowbird owners. Please explain to your viewers that it is not just the risk of volcano eruption. The weather is not as nice on the east side and perhaps even more important, there are really no beaches on this side. There are different levels of volcanic risk identified as Zones 1-3. Yes you can obtain a mortgage and homeowners insurance but no volcano insurance. HPP is affordable for those who want a warmer climate and do not need to be near a beach. Hope this helps.
We have a Realtor who lives in HPP (Hawaiian Paradise Park) that we can connect people to for more info, home sale info and more. She also started a Facebook group to connect people together in that subdivision!
Yes, no beaches here in the eastern BI. That is a real downside as I expect beaches on a tropical island. I'm trying to move to the Kona side but the expensive rents there are making that a challenge.
@@johnfraser8116 That is exactly what is happening. Although my friends from the East side make a day of it to come over to West Hawaii to hang at the beach, but that is a two hour drive.
Love your channel. I live in Seattle and everytime I visit the island I find milk and eggs, fruits and veggies, meat and poultry for way cheaper than quality product in Seattle. 5-6$ milk In Seattle vs 4 or 5$ milk from local farmers in Pahoa area. Eggs 1$ per egg cagefree In Seattle vs 4-6$ for dozen eggs side of the road vendors 😋 yumm Fruits n veggies expensive in Seattle vs sold for cheap in farmers markets. Quality Meat n poultry is hard to find In Seattle and if then it's 9$-19$ lbs depending on the meat. Overall being in Hawaii is cheaper than Seattle however many more jobs in Seattle offer lot more wage for work and housing is wayy higher. We battle high income with high costs of living standards so coming to hawaii is truly a vacation when even good quality restaurants in Hawaii are cheaper than low standard restaurants in seattle.
Fantastic video. We moved to Kona about 2 years ago. I have followed your content since then. I love your honest thoughts on each subject you decide to cover. Thank you for the time you put into telling the world about the big island! We have invested in multiple rentals and our dream home and we absolutely love raising our sons here. Did you guys recently move to Kona from up north? I hope to see you around town. Also, if you ever wanna talk UA-cam strategy hit me up. Aloha!
YOU FAILED TO POINT OUT, AT LEAST IT WAS STILL THIS WAY WHEN I MOVED INTO A VERY SMALL 1 BEDROOM APARTMENT IN DOWNTOWN HILO, FROM ORCHIDLAND ESTATES ABOUT 3 YRS AGO, IN MOST OF THE SUBDIVISIONS THERE IS NO CABLE SERVICE LINES, ONE HAS TO PUT OUT A GOODLY SUM OF MONEY FER A SATELLITE DISH AND THE MONTHLY FEE❗
If ur willing to live off grid like me in Ocean View u might not have rent or mortgage all. I also got no utilities to pay coz I got solar and catchment. Property taxes just $200 a year and road fees $140. But u have to deal with a long drive to work like me 80 miles round trip. Also it gets cold in the winter nights and not much entertainment. But u get to live in Hawaii still.
I would be interested in hearing comments from some who have recently moved from Silicon Valley and comparing the cost of living in Sunnyvale/Cupertino to Kona. our rent for a 3/2 house is over $4k per mo, gas is $4 per gal, car insurance alone on two cars (non electric) 3 adult drivers is $4k per year. seems difficult to get an accurate cost comparison. we paid about $11.5k in annual property tax on a 2/1 condo which is absurd by most standards.......any other comments are welcome.
We grew up in Sunnyvale/San Jose. Gas here has gone up to 4.08 a gallon. If you can FIND a house to rent, here, it could be $4000. Property taxes are definitely higher in CA than HI. Insurance companies ding Hawaii a bit as we have so many natural disasters that could hit us, so there IS that, too.
Just one more thought I compared the cost of 52oz of milk at both my local target and at the target in Kona. Same price. I’m not convinced the cost of the “basics” are that much more than Silicon Valley prices TBH.
Stock up on sales, make your own bread, shop at farmers markets, find out when the stores restock their meat and buy the sale meat, local caught fish (at least in Hilo) is cheaper than beef and you can buy many foods grown local and sold on the side of the roads. I can get 1 quart of organic, local honey for $20. Look around and find people who sell eggs and chicken meat and become a regular customer and get a better price.
I am paying $86 a month (in Kailua-Kona) for very reliable internet coverage from the local cable provider. It might be cheaper if bundled with TV, but I have no TV service. Speed is fine for streaming and Zoom, etc.
@@365Hawaii we lived in Nahalehu for over a year and they have Spectrum cable there. Just as good as Kona. We regret moving away from Nahalehu but we were one of the causality's of Covid.
Long time listener, first time commenter. Love it! Is it common practice for someone like me, a carpenter, to trade work for food from growers that have a surplus? Mahalos.
I just got back from my Oahu 🌈 vacation trip with my family. While I found Hawai'i to be beautiful I realized how high the cost of living is. NYC ( I'm a native New Yorker) is also expensive but at least employment is high and so here I shall remain.
Just ran across your channel and am really enjoying the info you're providing. I've lived my entire life thus far in So. Cal and I've never seen where the gas in Hawaii is actually less than it is currently here. Many other things seem like a wash in comparison which is a bit of a surprise, but CA is not inexpensive by any means any more....
Funny story- this subject. Wanted to cut carbs so instead of mashed potatoes I ran into Safeway to pick up a cauliflower. Saw said $3.99 so grabbed it and ran to check out. They said “$16” !!!!! What??? The checkout said that was PER POUND. I handed it back and made my mashed potatoes at home. 😝
It is included in HOA's on condos and such. We are paying about $75 a month to have ours collected in front of our house. Many homes DO have to take the trash themselves to the transfer stations.
That’s high! I pay that for 3 months in So Cal. I really like your videos! Thank you! My wife and I go to the Big Island once a year. Love the info and content. Mahalo🤙
Even though there is neighborhood pickup service, I have been saving money for years by taking the trash myself to the local transfer station. It's free. I drive a pickup, so it's never messy in the bed of my truck. The local transfer station also recycles corrugated cardboard (boxes) and glass (wine bottles). Nearby you can sell back your aluminum cans, beer bottles and plastic beverage bottles for 5 cents apiece.
@@elkchaser67 Yeah, we don't live in a normal neighborhood, so we pay a bit more and until the kids want to help me get the trash to the transfer station, I am paying for it!
Bake your own bread and freeze extra loaves, long term plan ahead… put in an orchard, then, immediately upon arrival plant your kitchen gardens, get a flock of hens, grow fresh herbs… both so easy! Make a COSTCO run once every month or so, fish for your own ahi, hunt for your own pork or, go veg! Livestock… to raise… hair sheep, milk or mower goats, raise cattle on your Aina or on rented pasture or… buy a side or a whole animal then, have local butcheries cut up and vacuum pack the whole animal in chops and pieces, freeze it. A vertical freezer only cost us less than $200 at Walmart this past year. Go solar asap! Rainwater harvesting provides the softest and sweetest H2O, buy Canadian reusable filters. Compost, recycle, take your rubbish to the dump or transfer station yourselves.
If your house is paid off its not that expensive. I buy most of my food from the HIlo farmers market, raise chickens and bake my own bread . Food and drink is plentiful and affordable on the big island if you know where to look.
This is from an 'average American lifestyle' perspective. Bo-rinnng. You seem like nice people , but I've lived in Hawaii for 38 years, off grid , I own a forested acre at 2000 ft. I live comfortably for under 10,000$ a year. It always surprises me how much money other people need ! Aloha.
Aloha Mike-that is awesome that you can live off grid and do it for an affordable rate. We live in 1300 sq feet, which most people in America would consider too small, but we make it work just fine. Everyone has their comfort levels and with two teens, there is NO WAY they would live off grid!
@@365Hawaii yes, I feel fortunate to find simplicity luxurious. The thing about living in Hawaii is that it can be very expensive or very inexpensive. The individual is actually given that choice, unlike most places where cheap off grid living year round is not as easy or comfortable. Most people don't realize you can own an acre with a couple off grid cottages for 40,000$ and 200$ a year taxes! And yes...some might consider living like I do a nightmare, not a dream. But I guess that's a good thing.....Aloha...see ya at the beach...!
How much does VOG play in to the historically low home prices on the BI compared to the the other islands? Seems reasonable that a person would pay 10+% to live on another island in order to lower their exposure and impacts in their daily lives as it relates to VOG. I love the BI, but seems like something to consider when planning where to live. Skies have been clear for a few years now in Kona, but will stay tuned on what Kīlauea decides to do.
Could you recommend me to some vegan festivities or vegan social gatherings on the big island? I'm looking for social events to meet new people. The only gatherings I seen was uncle robert's but it isn't plant based.
Has the big island still managed to maintain that "old hawaii" environment in recent years? Ive heard they got the fastest population of any other hawaiian island. Has there been a huge influx of people moving there lately, and has the island become to industrialized or do you sense that starting to happen? I reside in a fairly big city. Too many people, too much concrete, too much noise. Im through with the city life and want a complete opposite lifestyle now. A get away for good. I hope big island still has that countryside feel overall, with a lot greenlife, jungle, quiet, and areas with few people.
Thank you for all the information. We will be leaving South San Jose soon ( aka the dump). After a healthy amount of life experience I wish I would have left long ago. Big Island here we come! 🙏
I appreciate your channel but probably not realistic for Washington transfers. Our house in kona isn't close to the taxes you mention. I think you need to research it further. Oregon has no sale tax and high property taxes.. Washington has moderate property tax and 10% sales tax. Really hard to be comparing with such big differences. Our 2007 car in Hawaii is $241 a year including safety. My 2017 ram truck is $112 Washington. That isn't comparable. I don't fault you. But I do think you need better information.
Thanks Rick. We took what folks moving here from the mainland were sharing on the Kona Newbies page when we asked them. Thanks for your input here and I can include in a future written blog post.
Just got back from another trip to see the big island as I hadn't been back since 2019. It seems to really be picking up steam. Still a bargain compared to Santa Cruz, too bad I couldn't buy a place when I first visited in 95... I would be styling, however it looks like my buddy is looking to partner with me but even so we will need to do a fixer and rent it a few years till he is ready to retire. Then he wants go into building small homes on the property so we can keep collecting rents. Luckily we are a couple of bachelors that get a long well but my kids were concerned the whole trip that people thought we were homosexuals. Not that there is anything wrong with that. Apparently it was embarrassing for the kids, (teens) embarrassed by having a single dad, now embarrassed that people think I am gay. Since the this guy luckily scored the best gal on the island I am left asking if she has a sister? LOL seriously though how is the singles scene? California women don't last long as I have 3 kids and it can be a bit overwhelming. Are Hawaiians into family me? My dad babysat the oldest while I was gone and left immediately after getting me from the airport to drive all nigh to Oregon... and that was just one kid!
There are lots of single women over 60 here -if that gives you an idea. The "local wahine" have grown up with the guys in their community and sometimes DO look for something different, but with the cost of housing, having three kids is just financially hard and getting them around (tell me, I have a 16 year old) is work, too! Also, if people could build tiny homes on acreage, we wouldn't be in such a pickle right now with lack of housing. You have to look at the zoning laws HARD and there are not that many places that allow you to build multiple units on the land. (We have a sewage problem with many people on cesspools) Do your research - finding a date is easier than finding land you can put a small neighborhood on!
Aloha! My family and I are currently living on O'ahu but are looking to relocate to Kamuela I wondered if you could give me any advice as far as companies that ship cars etc interisland.
Wherever you move to in the world can work out being a little more expensive to live in, or maybe sometimes a little cheaper to live in depending on where you go. Gasoline (at Costco anyway) is relatively comparable in So Cal. Food is somewhat more in Hawaii. But like you said, you have to become much more frugal with your spending and eating habits and where you get your food. GOOD friends with GOOD trees is GOOD to have on the island!! And once all the pros and cons of living on the island are truly considered, you gotta really think about the fact that you're in Hawaii! Sure, it may cost a little more to live here, but you're still in Hawaii!! :D Thanks for another great video!
One thing my husband and I noticed as being new jersey locals our whole life is that the big island cost almost as much as nj!!!! there is a saying in nj "if you move out of NJ you may not be able to afford to come back." i found the differences to be as follows.
*house Rentals around me 1800-2000 a month Big island 2000
*taxes in my lake community 6000 a year for one Acer, big island mt view $200 a year per Acer
*gas at its height when I traveled to Hawaii was 3.98 a gallon in NJ, it was 4.20 in Hawaii
*milk 4.99 in NJ, Hawaii 6-7 bucks
*heating costs $500 in wood or $1950 in heating oil a year, Hawaii cost nada
apples to apples nj is very close to already living in Hawaii wear we get a break you may get taxed vice versa for us we are looking on the Hilo side, not the Kona just to clarify.
Great video. Thanks. Since the pandemic, I've been making my own no-knead bread. A one kilo loaf costs four cups of flour, a teaspoon of yeast, two teaspoons of salt and the gas to cook it. Much better than the $8 per loaf that I was paying.
That is why there was a run on flour at the beginning of the pandemic! I bought a KitchenAid with bread hooks so we can make our own, too!
I actually drive a lot more here on Big Island than I did on the mainland. I lived without a car for many years on the mainland because public transportation was so good in the city I lived in. Here however a car seems like a necessity to me and I am spending more time driving than I ever imagined I would when I moved here 7 months ago.
That is one thing we desperately need on this island is better public transportation. You DO need a car here. We helped a couple buy a home and after escrow closed, the new homeowner asked where the bus stop was. The County is working on it,,,,
I live in Oregon for 6 more months then I move to Hawaii. Cost of living here cost us around 3500 a month. That’s rent electric water garbage internet cable and food and gas. But when we get to our property our cost of living will drop to 1300 a month. That’s land payment cell phone and insurance. We will be off the grid and that’s saving us a lot of money. Plus I’m playing it smart and I’ve been stocking up on box and can goods plus shampoo ect. And plan on raising chickens and other animals for food. We know certain things will cost more we are expecting it but if I’ve planned smart I should have a leg up on some of the cost of things
Great breakdown hopefully this helps a lot of people. I've met a few people that moved there without proper research and no real plan. There's a lot of people that want to stay super comfortable A.C high electric usage etc just won't make it, the person I know that moved there lasted about 8 months.
Controlling costs is as hard as it is necessary. You can blow through ALOT of money just by not changing your lifestyle.
Love your channel. Regarding purchasing in east Hawaii or HPP really, the largest subdivision in the world with many Canadian snowbird owners. Please explain to your viewers that it is not just the risk of volcano eruption. The weather is not as nice on the east side and perhaps even more important, there are really no beaches on this side. There are different levels of volcanic risk identified as Zones 1-3. Yes you can obtain a mortgage and homeowners insurance but no volcano insurance. HPP is affordable for those who want a warmer climate and do not need to be near a beach. Hope this helps.
We have a Realtor who lives in HPP (Hawaiian Paradise Park) that we can connect people to for more info, home sale info and more. She also started a Facebook group to connect people together in that subdivision!
Yes, no beaches here in the eastern BI. That is a real downside as I expect beaches on a tropical island. I'm trying to move to the Kona side but the expensive rents there are making that a challenge.
@@johnfraser8116 That is exactly what is happening. Although my friends from the East side make a day of it to come over to West Hawaii to hang at the beach, but that is a two hour drive.
@@365Hawaii Yes, and for me it's at least a 4 1/2 hour round trip to go to the beach. It's more trouble than it's worth.
@@johnfraser8116 Oh boy..that IS a long way to go to sit at a beach.
Love your channel. I live in Seattle and everytime I visit the island I find milk and eggs, fruits and veggies, meat and poultry for way cheaper than quality product in Seattle. 5-6$ milk In Seattle vs 4 or 5$ milk from local farmers in Pahoa area. Eggs 1$ per egg cagefree In Seattle vs 4-6$ for dozen eggs side of the road vendors 😋 yumm
Fruits n veggies expensive in Seattle vs sold for cheap in farmers markets.
Quality Meat n poultry is hard to find In Seattle and if then it's 9$-19$ lbs depending on the meat. Overall being in Hawaii is cheaper than Seattle however many more jobs in Seattle offer lot more wage for work and housing is wayy higher. We battle high income with high costs of living standards so coming to hawaii is truly a vacation when even good quality restaurants in Hawaii are cheaper than low standard restaurants in seattle.
Have you ever priced out grass-fed beef? Here on the island it costs less than half of what it costs on the mainland!
Fantastic video. We moved to Kona about 2 years ago. I have followed your content since then. I love your honest thoughts on each subject you decide to cover. Thank you for the time you put into telling the world about the big island! We have invested in multiple rentals and our dream home and we absolutely love raising our sons here. Did you guys recently move to Kona from up north? I hope to see you around town. Also, if you ever wanna talk UA-cam strategy hit me up. Aloha!
YOU FAILED TO POINT OUT, AT LEAST IT WAS STILL THIS WAY WHEN I MOVED INTO A VERY SMALL 1 BEDROOM APARTMENT IN DOWNTOWN HILO, FROM ORCHIDLAND ESTATES ABOUT 3 YRS AGO, IN MOST OF THE SUBDIVISIONS THERE IS NO CABLE SERVICE LINES, ONE HAS TO PUT OUT A GOODLY SUM OF MONEY FER A SATELLITE DISH AND THE MONTHLY FEE❗
If ur willing to live off grid like me in Ocean View u might not have rent or mortgage all. I also got no utilities to pay coz I got solar and catchment. Property taxes just $200 a year and road fees $140. But u have to deal with a long drive to work like me 80 miles round trip. Also it gets cold in the winter nights and not much entertainment. But u get to live in Hawaii still.
I would be interested in hearing comments from some who have recently moved from Silicon Valley and comparing the cost of living in Sunnyvale/Cupertino to Kona. our rent for a 3/2 house is over $4k per mo, gas is $4 per gal, car insurance alone on two cars (non electric) 3 adult drivers is $4k per year. seems difficult to get an accurate cost comparison. we paid about $11.5k in annual property tax on a 2/1 condo which is absurd by most standards.......any other comments are welcome.
We grew up in Sunnyvale/San Jose. Gas here has gone up to 4.08 a gallon. If you can FIND a house to rent, here, it could be $4000. Property taxes are definitely higher in CA than HI. Insurance companies ding Hawaii a bit as we have so many natural disasters that could hit us, so there IS that, too.
I'm from SF and cost of food is WAY higher
@@poisxe we pay about 4-450 for a 1/2 gal of milk here in the Bay Area, ya stuff is really expensive here
Just one more thought
I compared the cost of 52oz of milk at both my local target and at the target in Kona. Same price. I’m not convinced the cost of the “basics” are that much more than Silicon Valley prices TBH.
Stock up on sales, make your own bread, shop at farmers markets, find out when the stores restock their meat and buy the sale meat, local caught fish (at least in Hilo) is cheaper than beef and you can buy many foods grown local and sold on the side of the roads. I can get 1 quart of organic, local honey for $20. Look around and find people who sell eggs and chicken meat and become a regular customer and get a better price.
Thank you so much! Great information.
Appreciate the kudos!
What is internet coverage like, as well as cost. I teach online and need good zoom-ability. Thanks for all your help!
Its excellent in most places on the island..not so much super rural areas like Nahalehu and Ka'u District.
I am paying $86 a month (in Kailua-Kona) for very reliable internet coverage from the local cable provider. It might be cheaper if bundled with TV, but I have no TV service. Speed is fine for streaming and Zoom, etc.
@@365Hawaii we lived in Nahalehu for over a year and they have Spectrum cable there. Just as good as Kona. We regret moving away from Nahalehu but we were one of the causality's of Covid.
I pay 59/mo for just internet thru spectrum on the hilo side. It is a good enough speed to keep 4 kids in online school and their robot gaming
High cost in the mainland also, you're no alone!
Very informative. Thank you!
Long time listener, first time commenter. Love it!
Is it common practice for someone like me, a carpenter, to trade work for food from growers that have a surplus? Mahalos.
You can get clever and offer handy man services to a variety of farmers as they need it to help with food costs for sure.
I just got back from my Oahu 🌈 vacation trip with my family. While I found Hawai'i to be beautiful I realized how high the cost of living is. NYC ( I'm a native New Yorker) is also expensive but at least employment is high and so here I shall remain.
Just ran across your channel and am really enjoying the info you're providing. I've lived my entire life thus far in So. Cal and I've never seen where the gas in Hawaii is actually less than it is currently here. Many other things seem like a wash in comparison which is a bit of a surprise, but CA is not inexpensive by any means any more....
Funny story- this subject. Wanted to cut carbs so instead of mashed potatoes I ran into Safeway to pick up a cauliflower. Saw said $3.99 so grabbed it and ran to check out. They said “$16” !!!!! What??? The checkout said that was PER POUND. I handed it back and made my mashed potatoes at home. 😝
funny story, I have heard that Cauliflower was expensive but that is a lot, was it Safeway?
Aloha! Thank you for sharing the information.
Thx for the info but you didn’t mention the cost of trash? Mahalo
It is included in HOA's on condos and such. We are paying about $75 a month to have ours collected in front of our house. Many homes DO have to take the trash themselves to the transfer stations.
That’s high! I pay that for 3 months in So Cal. I really like your videos! Thank you! My wife and I go to the Big Island once a year. Love the info and content. Mahalo🤙
Even though there is neighborhood pickup service, I have been saving money for years by taking the trash myself to the local transfer station. It's free. I drive a pickup, so it's never messy in the bed of my truck. The local transfer station also recycles corrugated cardboard (boxes) and glass (wine bottles). Nearby you can sell back your aluminum cans, beer bottles and plastic beverage bottles for 5 cents apiece.
you can haul it to the dump for free in most parts of the island
@@elkchaser67 Yeah, we don't live in a normal neighborhood, so we pay a bit more and until the kids want to help me get the trash to the transfer station, I am paying for it!
Good info
Thank you!
very nice you guys, so honest. great channel
Thank you!
Bake your own bread and freeze extra loaves, long term plan ahead… put in an orchard, then, immediately upon arrival plant your kitchen gardens, get a flock of hens, grow fresh herbs… both so easy! Make a COSTCO run once every month or so, fish for your own ahi, hunt for your own pork or, go veg! Livestock… to raise… hair sheep, milk or mower goats, raise cattle on your Aina or on rented pasture or… buy a side or a whole animal then, have local butcheries cut up and vacuum pack the whole animal in chops and pieces, freeze it. A vertical freezer only cost us less than $200 at Walmart this past year. Go solar asap! Rainwater harvesting provides the softest and sweetest H2O, buy Canadian reusable filters. Compost, recycle, take your rubbish to the dump or transfer station yourselves.
Puna is amazing💙 can live off grid very elegantly if you are creative aloha
If your house is paid off its not that expensive. I buy most of my food from the HIlo farmers market, raise chickens and bake my own bread . Food and drink is plentiful and affordable on the big island if you know where to look.
Good job, it is aways good to see how people can figure a way to live healthy with breaking the bank. Thinking about getting chicken myself.
Can I email you guys a listing I’m looking at to get your opinions on it please? Thank you so much!
This is from an 'average American lifestyle' perspective. Bo-rinnng. You seem like nice people , but I've lived in Hawaii for 38 years, off grid , I own a forested acre at 2000 ft. I live comfortably for under 10,000$ a year. It always surprises me how much money other people need ! Aloha.
Aloha Mike-that is awesome that you can live off grid and do it for an affordable rate. We live in 1300 sq feet, which most people in America would consider too small, but we make it work just fine. Everyone has their comfort levels and with two teens, there is NO WAY they would live off grid!
@@365Hawaii yes, I feel fortunate to find simplicity luxurious. The thing about living in Hawaii is that it can be very expensive or very inexpensive. The individual is actually given that choice, unlike most places where cheap off grid living year round is not as easy or comfortable. Most people don't realize you can own an acre with a couple off grid cottages for 40,000$ and 200$ a year taxes! And yes...some might consider living like I do a nightmare, not a dream. But I guess that's a good thing.....Aloha...see ya at the beach...!
How much does VOG play in to the historically low home prices on the BI compared to the the other islands? Seems reasonable that a person would pay 10+% to live on another island in order to lower their exposure and impacts in their daily lives as it relates to VOG. I love the BI, but seems like something to consider when planning where to live. Skies have been clear for a few years now in Kona, but will stay tuned on what Kīlauea decides to do.
Except for places like Costco, gasoline and diesel are in the $4-4.50 range even within a mile of the refinery here in California.
Could you recommend me to some vegan festivities or vegan social gatherings on the big island?
I'm looking for social events to meet new people. The only gatherings I seen was uncle robert's but it isn't plant based.
Farmers Markets are your best bet at this point. There are no festivals because of COVID.
Has the big island still managed to maintain that "old hawaii" environment in recent years?
Ive heard they got the fastest population of any other hawaiian island. Has there been a huge influx of people moving there lately, and has the island become to industrialized or do you sense that starting to happen?
I reside in a fairly big city. Too many people, too much concrete, too much noise.
Im through with the city life and want a complete opposite lifestyle now. A get away for good.
I hope big island still has that countryside feel overall, with a lot greenlife, jungle, quiet, and areas with few people.
Thank you for all the information. We will be leaving South San Jose soon ( aka the dump). After a healthy amount of life experience I wish I would have left long ago. Big Island here we come! 🙏
I grew up in Blossom Valley (Pearl and Branham)..glad we left when we did.
Great information - thank you.
YOu are welcome!
“We did research on Craigslist..” oh ffs.
hello, i, looking for a realtor on the Kona and Hilo side because I'm not sure what side I want.
Would 50k a year be enough for a single guy living on the big island??
5,500.00/mo. mortgage plus all else......you gotta be making 10K/mo. Goodness!
I appreciate your channel but probably not realistic for Washington transfers. Our house in kona isn't close to the taxes you mention. I think you need to research it further. Oregon has no sale tax and high property taxes.. Washington has moderate property tax and 10% sales tax. Really hard to be comparing with such big differences. Our 2007 car in Hawaii is $241 a year including safety. My 2017 ram truck is $112 Washington. That isn't comparable. I don't fault you. But I do think you need better information.
Thanks Rick. We took what folks moving here from the mainland were sharing on the Kona Newbies page when we asked them. Thanks for your input here and I can include in a future written blog post.
So in Kona is there sewer systems and how much is sewer cost.?
Just got back from another trip to see the big island as I hadn't been back since 2019. It seems to really be picking up steam. Still a bargain compared to Santa Cruz, too bad I couldn't buy a place when I first visited in 95... I would be styling, however it looks like my buddy is looking to partner with me but even so we will need to do a fixer and rent it a few years till he is ready to retire. Then he wants go into building small homes on the property so we can keep collecting rents. Luckily we are a couple of bachelors that get a long well but my kids were concerned the whole trip that people thought we were homosexuals. Not that there is anything wrong with that. Apparently it was embarrassing for the kids, (teens) embarrassed by having a single dad, now embarrassed that people think I am gay. Since the this guy luckily scored the best gal on the island I am left asking if she has a sister? LOL seriously though how is the singles scene? California women don't last long as I have 3 kids and it can be a bit overwhelming. Are Hawaiians into family me? My dad babysat the oldest while I was gone and left immediately after getting me from the airport to drive all nigh to Oregon... and that was just one kid!
There are lots of single women over 60 here -if that gives you an idea. The "local wahine" have grown up with the guys in their community and sometimes DO look for something different, but with the cost of housing, having three kids is just financially hard and getting them around (tell me, I have a 16 year old) is work, too! Also, if people could build tiny homes on acreage, we wouldn't be in such a pickle right now with lack of housing. You have to look at the zoning laws HARD and there are not that many places that allow you to build multiple units on the land. (We have a sewage problem with many people on cesspools) Do your research - finding a date is easier than finding land you can put a small neighborhood on!
Aloha! My family and I are currently living on O'ahu but are looking to relocate to Kamuela I wondered if you could give me any advice as far as companies that ship cars etc interisland.