What are the difference about living in AK or HI??? Which of this states are better for me??

Question

.I don't care too much about the weather, in fact, I like cold weather

.I don't like heat (I can take the reasonable summer warm temperatures like in Chicago or Detroit, but no more)

.I've heard about Alaska's high cost of living, what factors should I be aware of about this issue???? Is HI's cost of living lower or higher than Alaskan??

.Over AK, what advantages does HI have??, or at least, positive things that AK doesn't have, and viceversa.

.It is better for me (from your point of view) to live only in the other contigous 48 states???

THANKS.

P.S. What kind of jobs in the 48 contigous state am I not likely to find in AK, or HI??

Answer 1

Well, Hawaii is just a wonderful place to live.  It doesn't have a lot of industrial jobs, obviously, because of the cost of shipping.  Tourism and agriculture are the main parts of the economy.  

If you have a job in health care--RN, physical or respiratory therapist or some sort of medical technician--I think you could work pretty much anywhere.  I think in either place you can expect that you have to be nice to the tourists (I live in San Diego and you're forever giving directions to people and asking where they're from and if they're having a good time).  If you're an experienced electrician or other trade then that translates to being able to work anywhere.  I'd read the classifieds of any city to see what kind of jobs are most in demand.

It's my impressions that Alaska is little more "last of the wild west" than the rest of the US; these are really rugged independent people much like the people who settled Texas, Oklahoma, Wyoming, etc.  Hawaii is a gentler, ocean/surf culture.  

You don't really say enough about what you're looking for to allow anyone to advise you about living in one place or the other.  Obviously travel is more expensive in HI or AK as compared to the mainland, and some companies don't ship there.  I don't know what you do for a living now or what you're interested in, so I can't say if the mainland is better for you.  What if you live in a nice tax-free state in the 48 and then vacation in HI and see if you fall in love with it?  

Both states have equally high costs of living, so you just need to be well enough educated that you are paid well, so your income is higher than average.  Again, what careers do you like, and what would make you want to kill yourself?  I think if you have a career you love with a decent salary, you'll be happy pretty much anywhere.  

You're trying to compare pineapples and oranges, which is hard.  I assume you're looking for something just a little more exotic than a job at Lowe's.  Do some more self examination, and good luck!!

Answer 2

i do not know much about alaska, but as far as hawaii is concerned, its pretty much sun all year round, not too hot but there can be pretty hot days every now and then. as far as cost of living, hawaii is very expensive due to several factors, it might even be higher than alaska.

very crowded, tons of people everywhere, getting more and more cramped and crowded as far as buildings, housing, and land use.

but the good things are overwhelming, people come to hawaii for different reasons, many concentrate on the scenery, the beaches, weather, being on an island, but hawaii has or at least had a lot more to it than that. it had a way of life, the way of life of islanders, and there is nothing like it in the US, however, almost all of that lifestyle is gone from hawaii now. not completely but almost all. the past two or three decades has really americanized hawaii even more. now its culture is considered surfing and beaches, when it used to be much more than that. the influx of tourist and people relocating from the US has really changed it and not really in a positive way. and although it has lost a lot of its genuine culture, it still has more visible culture to be experienced than probably any other state.

there is still that easy going, laid back, essence to life that still remains there. and the positive things are overwhelming. the weather is nice, the people are nice, like no where else in the states, its hard not to be happy in hawaii. if you are friendly, outgoing and laid back then you will fit right in.