What Are the Hidden Costs of Moving to Hawaii?

Written by Tina Haines who has made this move both directions.

There are some hidden costs of moving to Hawaii that you may not have considered. When we made the move in 2022, we didn’t consider many of these hidden costs. Some of them include taxes on temporary housing (about 18% on Oahu), the first month’s rent plus deposit at the signing of your lease, pet costs, car safety check and registration, and electricity which costs around 43 to 47 cents per kWh.

These costs surprise most people because when making the move to Hawaii, most budgets will stop at the moving costs (shipping a car, household items, etc.) and the first month’s rent. In this post, I’ll talk about housing, shipping, pets, car, utilities, family travel, and the cushion. If you want to get further details on what it costs on a daily basis, read our Hawaii cost of living post.

I think what surprised us in terms of unexpected costs of moving to Hawaii was the cost to prepare our cat for the move. We had no idea what it would entail as Hawaii is rabies free and has strict rules about pets entering the islands.

TL;DR Hawaii Unexpected Moving Costs

Some of the hidden costs of moving to Hawaii include temporary housing taxes of about 18.5%, first month’s rent plus a security deposit for a lease, pet import fees, car registration and use tax, high electricity rates, and the cost of flights home. It helps to plan for 3 to 6 months of expenses as a cushion on top of your moving costs.

Key Takeaways

• Stays under 180 days carry state and county lodging taxes plus general excise tax, about 18.5% on Oahu
• Hawaii limits upfront rent to the first month plus a security deposit (and up to one more month for a pet)
• Matson’s published car shipping rate starts at $1,790, and extras like elevator fees and storage-in-transit add more
• Pets run roughly $600 to $1,400 each on the standard path, and more if they fly as cargo
• Electricity runs about 43 to 47 cents per kWh, and a general excise tax of about 4.5% is added to most purchases
• A 3 to 6 month emergency cushion is the most common advice from Hawaii cost guides

How Much Should You Budget Beyond the Moving Quote?

The moving quote covers getting your belongings to Hawaii, not for living there. It’s ideal to budget for six categories:

• Housing
• Shipping extras
• Pets
• Car
• Utilities
• Travel

Below is a table of common hidden costs when moving to Hawaii.

Hidden Cost	Typical Range	When You Pay
Taxes on temporary housing (under 180 days)	About 18.5% on top of the nightly rate on Oahu	First 2 to 4 weeks
First month’s rent plus security deposit	$4,524 at $2,262/month (up to $6,786 with a pet deposit)	At signing
Car shipping (mainland to Hawaii)	Starts at $1,790 with Matson	Before you arrive
Car setup in Hawaii	About $30 safety check, $45 to $75 registration, plus weight tax and 4.5% use tax	Within 30 days of arrival
Pet import (per pet)	Roughly $600 to $1,400 on the standard path	4 to 5 months before arrival
Electricity	About 43 to 47 cents per kWh	Monthly
General Excise Tax	About 4.5% added to most purchases	Every purchase
Moving extras (elevator, long carry, storage, insurance)	Varies; insurance is roughly 1% to 3% of declared value	On delivery
Flights to see family	Round trips start around $500	Whenever you travel
Emergency cushion	3 to 6 months of expenses	Before you move

Why Does Temporary Housing Cost More Than the Listed Rate?

Any stays that are under 180 days are taxed as transient accommodations. The state rose from 10.25% to 11% on January 1, 2026. Honolulu adds 3% and general excise tax adds about 4.5% to 4.7%, which is roughly 18.5% total on Oahu.

For example, a $150 a night rental becomes about $178 after taxes. Most people who move to the island need about 14 to 30 days of temporary lodging. When checking for rentals online, the listing price doesn’t always show the tax until checkout.

What Do You Pay Up Front When You Rent in Hawaii?

A landlord can collect the first month’s rent and a security deposit up to one month at the start of a rental. Be cautious of red flags. For example, if anyone asks for extra months up front or a wire transfer, that is a scam.

There are extra fees that you should ask about as well to include rental application fees, parking, pet deposit and rent, and any utilities that aren’t included.

A side note: when you ask if a parking space will be available upon renting. When we moved into our Oahu apartment, we were told that getting a parking space was unlikely. That is because the landlord of our unit parked his barely-working vehicle in the spot that came with his unit. However, the rules of the complex were that you were put on a waiting list and if the owner of the unit didn’t live in the complex, they couldn’t occupy a parking space.

It took approximately two years out of the four that we lived there to finally get a parking space. The HOA board president changed and was able to get the other members to agree that vehicles not in use had to be removed.

I wanted to share that because it is something to be aware of. Unfortunately, we had a landlord who took advantage of the situation.

What Hidden Fees Come With Shipping Your Car and Belongings to Hawaii?

The cost to ship a car to Hawaii is fairly straight forward when using Matson (the company we used.) In 2022 we paid around $1,100 or so. Currently, the published price starts at $1,790 from the mainland. Check the Matson car shipping rates here for the most up to date pricing.

Hidden fees for shipping household goods to Hawaii can include storage fees if your move-in date slips, insurance or valuation coverage, loading labor, and elevator and long-carry fees.

How Much Does It Cost to Bring a Pet to Hawaii?

Moving with a pet to Hawaii can be one of the most surprising when it comes to costs. You’ll have to consider Hawaii pet import costs such as possible pet quarantine fees, FAVN test cost, vaccination costs, airline pet fee, health certificate cost, and tick treatment.

Prepping your pet for the move will be a matter of timing and money. It’s a good idea to start 4 to 5 months before your planned move date. You’ll need to work with your vet to ensure that your pet is vaccinated for rabies per the Hawaii Animal Quarantine Information page. Your pet will also need to pass the FAVN test (measures the amount of rabies vaccine in your pet’s blood.)

Besides that, you’ll need to budget for additional costs such as Hawaii’s quarantine programs in the event your pet is put into quarantine. The goal is to get Direct Airport Release which is $185 per pet. The 5-Day-or-Less quarantine is $244, and full quarantine is $1,080.

You can read our full guide on how to bring a dog or cat to Hawaii for more details.

What Car Costs Do Newcomers Miss After the Car Arrives?

Once your car has arrived in Hawaii, you’ll need to get a safety inspection ($25-$30), Hawaii vehicle registration (weight tax that varies by county), and a 4.5% use tax (4.0% in Maui County) on out-of-state vehicles unless you can prove that sales tax was already paid.

There is also car insurance that may cost between $1,400 to $2,400 per year. Try to get quotes before making your move. Keep in mind that you’ll have 30 days to register your vehicle. Read our guide to transferring your driver’s license and car registration for more info.

Why Are Utilities and Everyday Bills Higher Than You Expect?

Hawaii electricity rates are the hightest in the nation. You can expect to pay about 43 to 47 center per kWh. That is about 2 to 3 times more than the average cost on the mainland.

As for everyday bills, there is the Hawaii general excise tax (about 4.5%) on most purchases. This tax is often passed on at checkout. Other extras may include dehumidifiers, mildew-resistant storage, and having to replace items that don’t survive the humidity.

The most shocking everyday cost for us were the grocery prices. While we knew they would be higher, it was a much different experience to live in Hawaii and buy groceries on a regular basis. It is something that you have to do and we often spent $80 to $100 for 1-2 days of meals at the grocery stores. The common supermarkets on Oahu include Safeway, Foodland, and Times. Costco and Sam’s Club are options but it is tough to store bulk items in a small apartment.

What Does Being Far From Home Cost You?

Travel back and forth to the mainland was one of our biggest costs that actually put us into debt. We missed many holidays and special events. For family emergencies, my wife would often fly alone and I stayed back on the island because we couldn’t afford for both of us to fly and pay to put our cat in a pet lodge.

Pet lodging in Hawaii can cost around $90 a day. Flights back to the mainland can start around $500. If you plan on flying back to visit family, it’s important to budget for it.

How Much Cushion Should You Save Before You Move?

Although we moved to Hawaii without much saved, in order to move comfortably with the least amount of stress, it helps to have about 3 to 6 months of expenses saved beyond your moving costs. Hawaii is one of the most expensive states to live in. Having a savings makes the transition a lot easier as there are almost always unforeseen costs.

FAQ

Final Thoughts

We took a huge leap when we moved to Oahu. It was a move that was partly out of desperation because we needed to make a life change fast. We didn’t have a ton of money saved. The costs that surprised me most were the costs for moving with a pet.

I didn’t realize how strict Hawaii is when it comes to moving with a pet. It is a rabies-free state and you have to meet their requirements. Saving as much as you can before you move will always help. You don’t want the stress of having to deal with unforeseen costs.

I hope this post has been helpful! Be sure to check out our other posts that cover a variety of moving to Hawaii topics.