Income level needed for a family of 3 to live comfortably? (Kailua: for rent, attorney)

[Slappysan]

Looking at taking a job in Oahu but I'm wondering what kind of income level we would need for a family of 3 (+ dog) to live comfortably.

Leaning towards living in Kailua and commuting so that means rent will be over $2000/mo of our budget.

My son is 5 years old and I hear the public schools in Kailua aren't too bad.

We are coming from a place with very high property values and high living costs so Hawaii prices will probably be about what we are used to.

[Mikala43]

Without more info it's hard to answer your question. What do you consider living comfortably? What area are you comparing Hawaii to?

[Slappysan]

It's not a question of comparing so much. I'm looking at the income level to have:
- a mediocre car
- pay $2400/mo rent
- eat out a couple times a week
- fly back to the mainland once a year
- money to spend on recreation

[HiloDiver]

Still way too huge of a range to answer you.

What is the salary they are offering? The realities of that would be easier to discuss.

[Slappysan]

I'm not sure the numbers yet, just that it's over $100k.

[whtviper1]

Originally Posted by Slappysan

It's not a question of comparing so much. I'm looking at the income level to have:
- pay $2400/mo rent
n

Your target place to live is a very expensive area to rent. You can find things at that budget but they will tend to be very small and/or be rough around the edges.

I just saw the dog part. There are only 2 listings in that range recently listed for rent in Kailua. A more realistic number for rent with a dog is $3,000+

[Slappysan]

I've been watching CL and seen a few dog friendly places there. Right now there's one for $2200 and two for $2600.

Even though it's an expensive area the way I see it is Kialua and public shchool vs. Honalulu and private school so it's probably cheaper there.

[CyberCity]

Originally Posted by Slappysan

My son is 5 years old and I hear the public schools in Kailua aren't too bad.

So, you would be satisfied in putting your child into a school as long as it is not "too bad"?

Originally Posted by Slappysan

Even though it's an expensive area the way I see it is Kialua and public shchool vs. Honalulu and private school so it's probably cheaper there.

That is too general a comparison. You'll need to be much more exacting when researching schools.

[oregonwoodsmoke]

Originally Posted by Slappysan

It's not a question of comparing so much. I'm looking at the income level to have:
- a mediocre car
- pay $2400/mo rent
- eat out a couple times a week
- fly back to the mainland once a year
- money to spend on recreation

Rule of thumb, most landlords are going to require that your take-home be 3 times the rent. So, for round figures, you want to spend $2500 a month on rent, you will need to take home $7500 a month.

That's $90,000 a year take home. There would be a very large chunk more to add on for whatever taxes are taken out. So, just guessing, maybe $125,000 gross per year?

Those are just rule of thumb figures., With the cost of electricity and gasoline, I don't know how many times you will be able to eat out, especially if you hope to frequent nice places. You might have to fly steerage instead of biusinesss class, but you could probably do it , if you are a careful shopper.

[hunterseat]

SOAPBOX: Get your dog's blood work done yesterday. Seriously. Now would not be too soon. Once it's drawn you can count 120 days and that's when your dog can enter Hawaiian society. And the test is good for 3 yrs so git 'er done.

It's a shame the schools are so crappy over here. One principal said they wanted uniforms to make sure they knew if an outsider entered without authorization. All he asked for was for TSHIRTS. Not some kind of knickers and saddle shoes. Parents threatened to sue and the Board said "go for it but you'll have to pay your own attorney fee's" So the school backed down and most kids don't wear uniforms. Or they wear street clothes underneath and some of the teachers don't enforce so the kids take the tshirt off when they get to those classes. Sort of sickening.