The Rising Cost of Living in Hawaii

The cost of living on Oahu was up 3.8% last year, the Advertiser reports.

O'ahu's energy prices rose 16 percent year over year, largely because of higher oil prices. A rapid rise in land prices helped push housing costs — meaning rent and mortgage expenses — up 5.6 percent last year.

My rent went up 12% last year, (and I'm still getting a great deal compared with other units in the area). My salary, however, only went up 2%. Among my friends and colleagues, these figures are average.