Why It Costs So Much To Own A Car In Hawaii 16 High gas prices and registration fees make it expensive to own a car in Hawaii and that makes it even harder to afford to live here
Policy discussions on Hawaii’s high cost of living often focus on housing, but there’s another unavoidable expense that bleeds thousands of dollars from households annually — transportation.
After housing, child care and food, the cost of transportation in Hawaii represents the biggest monthly expense for many residents, studies show.
And for people who need a car or truck for work or family obligations, the cost is exorbitant, in some regards higher than West Coast cities like Portland and Los Angeles, thanks to state and local government fees.
While the high costs affect everyone, they especially hit working families who are struggling to get by.
