Using data from The Hawaii Tourism Authority and Kayak.com, the cheapest island to visit is Oahu. Airfare, hotel, and rental car for two people for a week costs $2,625 on Oahu. The most expensive Hawaiian island to visit is Maui, where the same average costs for a week are $3,600.
Over the last 40 years in the State of Hawai'i, we have seen that the average year-over-year appreciation in home value has been around +3.5%. That's not to say that every year has reflected an increase; in fact, there were years in the last 40 when we saw double-digit drops in appreciation.
Dominican Republic, Belize (the only English-speaking country in Central America), Costa Rica, and Panama are a few of the most affordable islands to live on and double up as top destinations to visit. The best option for you will depend on the type of lifestyle you intend to lead.
Lanai entices the sophisticated traveller with a handful of exclusive luxury resorts and championship golf courses. It's the least visited Hawaiian Island, small in size and slow in pace those that travel to Lanai, by air or on the ferry from Maui, are forced to rest and relax.
Which place is cheaper, Hawaii or Florida? These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. The average daily cost (per person) in Florida is $244, while the average daily cost in Hawaii is $342.
In summary, Hawaii is substantially more expensive than Florida across all major categories that determine cost of living. Factors like high housing prices and grocery costs in Hawaii mean you can expect to pay 50-100% more compared to Florida for the same quality of life.
Hawaii is prone to natural disastersLiving in Hawaii comes with the risk of natural disasters, including hurricanes, earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions. The islands are in the Pacific Ring of Fire, with high volcanic and seismic activity.
The Winner: Kula, MauiKula is a large area with varying degrees of privacy that range from quiet subdivisions to acres of rural land with no neighbors in sight. But if it's some degree of quiet you want, Kula is a great place to start your search.