How Much Does It Cost to Move to Hawaii? [2025 Data]

Glittering white sandy beaches, beautiful blue oceans, and lush palm trees make the thought of living in Hawaii a dream come true. The island life sounds like easy living, but how much does it cost to move to Hawaii? You can expect to pay between $1,500 and $12,000 to move to Hawaii. However, there are many cost factors that can determine how much you can expect to spend on your move.

Cost Breakdown to Move to Hawaii

Although there are common moving expenses to consider, things are a bit different when you move from the mainland to an island. Here are the main costs to consider:

Shipping Household Items

The cost to ship your items can vary significantly. The more you ship, the more it will cost. The type of moving company and shipping method you choose will impact the price as well. For example, if you opt to ship your items using a pod, it can run between $2,300 to $7,000 or more. It depends on the size of the container, your location, the timeframe for moving, and the season. 

You can also ship your items through various carriers such as USPS, UPS, and FedEx. However, depending on the carrier, costs may be considered as "international," not "domestic" shipping, and that can raise prices. Shipping furniture can get expensive and range from $1,000 to $4,500 per item for international rates. 

Renting a Moving Container

Renting a moving container may be the most cost-efficient option if you decide to take a lot of items with you to Hawaii. Some popular container-moving companies are UPack, UHaul, and PODS, and you should compare prices across companies to get the best price possible.

In most cases, the moving company will ask you for details such as how many bedrooms worth of items you have to ship. The average cost for shipping a container for distances between 100 and 2,050 miles is $2,000 for a one-bedroom house to $5,000 or more for a five-bedroom house. The cost to ship a moving container internationally can vary greatly, depending on container size and weight and distance it’s shipping. The price of this service typically starts around $1,400 and can exceed $6,900.

Transporting Your Car

If you want to keep your vehicle, then you will have to pay to transport it over to Hawaii. The cost to ship a car is typically $0.60 per mile for moves over 1,000 miles. However, shipping a car overseas can cost $1,000 for short-range shipping to $40,000 for express air freight shipping. The vehicle size, shipping distance, and method impact the price significantly.

If you choose an enclosed carrier to reduce the risk of damage from bad weather, then it will be more expensive. The time of year can determine the cost, too. Since the price of gas has seasonal fluctuations, it can cause the cost to increase, which is why transporting your car in the winter will generally cost less than in the summer. Another expense is how you decide to have them deliver your car. If you pick it up at the port, it will cost less than it being delivered to your home.

Travel and Airfare Expenses

Airline ticket prices change frequently, so the expense depends on when you book your flight. The season, distance, time of day, and even oil prices affect how much your ticket will cost. However, a one-way ticket to Hawaii starts at $120 if you fly out of the Los Angeles airport, but flights can range up to $500 or more.

So, where you are flying from will also impact the cost. If you have to check luggage, that will add to your cost of moving to Hawaii. The amount depends on the airline, bag size, and how many additional bags you take. Typically it ranges from $30 for the first bag, $40 or more for the second, and can exceed $100 for the third bag. Remember to keep room in your budget for meals and hotel stays during your trip, too.

Additional Costs to Consider

Now that you know the basic costs, let's dive into other expenses you should consider before making the move. 

Transporting Your Pets

So, how much does it cost to move to Hawaii with pets? There are quite a few factors that impact the price. It depends on the airline, your pet's weight and size, and the quarantine period. It can cost between $250 to over $1,000 per pet. Moving pets to Hawaii is quite complex, and you may be required to quarantine them for up to 120 days. Some animals are prohibited from being brought to Hawaii, so do your research before deciding if this is a good move for you and your animals. 

Cost of Living Expenses

Before you start planning your move, you need to figure out if you can afford to live in Hawaii. The cost of living in Hawaii is one of the most expensive places to live in the United States. 

Since everything needs to be shipped to the island, it causes a hike in living costs. In fact, the cost of living in Honolulu, Hawaii, is 84% higher than the national average, according to a study by Payscale. The best thing to do is sit down and calculate your basic living expenses to see if you can afford to live in Hawaii.

Packing Services

To ensure your items are packed and moved efficiently, you may want to hire professional movers to help. This will add to the cost of moving to Hawaii, but you will rest assured knowing your possessions will arrive safely. 

Movers don’t pack your items because they charge more for this service. It can cost up to an additional $1,000 for packing services, but it depends on the size of your home and how many items they pack. 

Hiring full-service movers costs a minimum of $2,300, but they take care of everything for you. So, you can free yourself from the burden of packing and moving your belongings yourself. 

Insurance

The cost of moving insurance may seem like an unnecessary expense, but when you’re moving across the ocean with all your belongings, it’s better to be safe than sorry. A full-value policy costs between 1% and 2% of the total value of your belongings, but you get the total value of any damaged items. There’s also a free option of a released-value protection policy, but you’ll only be compensated for a fraction of your item’s value if it’s broken.

Why You Should Hire a Moving Pro

Packing your belongings yourself could save you around $1,000 on your move compared to hiring movers. However, leaving this job to a moving company near you will greatly reduce the stress of moving and may even be more cost-efficient when you factor in the risk of breaking precious items with DIY packing and loading.

Here’s why it’s ideal to hire a moving pro

Moving from the continental U.S. to Hawaii is a massive undertaking, but pros can make the process much easier. Here are several benefits of hiring a pro for your move:

• Moving pros can expertly pack your belongings for the best protection of your valuables.

• Reputable moving companies carry insurance to cover lost or damaged items in transit.

• Movers can offer recommendations for reducing packing and shipping costs.

• Pros are the most efficient at packing and loading boxes, and they can pack your entire apartment or home in much less time than if you DIY.

• Movers can safely move heavy and delicate objects, while DIYing could lead to injury or broken items.

• Pro movers will handle the entire process, from scheduling arrival to packing and loading items to managing inventory to timing out the delivery, leaving you with less stress during the move.

If you want to DIY moving to Hawaii

When it comes to moving to an island, you’ll have to leave at least some of the work to the pros to get your items, and yourself, across the ocean. But there are some tasks you can check off yourself:

• Declutter, organize, and pack your own belongings to save on packing costs.

• Load the packing container yourself.

• After your items arrive at your new home, unload and unpack the boxes yourself.

• Sell or donate your unwanted belongings to reduce moving costs.

4 Tips to Save Money on Your Move to Hawaii

Moving to Hawaii can be expensive, but there are ways you can cut costs to make it more affordable. Here are some simple ways to save on moving costs:

• Downsize your items: The biggest expense is shipping your items. So, use this as an opportunity to downsize your home and start fresh with less clutter. 

• Compare shipping costs: Check different shipping methods and carriers to find the best price for shipping your items. 

• Sell your car: If you want to simplify and save money on your move, then selling your vehicle may be a good option. You could use free public transportation, bike, or walk until you decide to get another vehicle. 

• Move during the off-season: Airfare and travel are more expensive during peak season. Planning your move during the off-peak season can save you a bundle on travel expenses. 

How Angi Gets Its Cost Data

Home is the most important place on earth, which is why Angi has helped more than 150 million homeowners transform their houses into homes they adore. To help homeowners with their next project, Angi provides readers with the most accurate cost data and upholds strict editorial standards. We extensively research project costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We rely on reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects. 

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