a retard wrote:
newper wrote:
http://www.forbes.com/pictures/emeg45ikdk/1-honolulu-hawaii-tie/ Forbes lists Honolulu as the #1 overpriced city in America, tied with NYC. Mathematically determined by looking at housing costs, utility costs, day-to-day goods, etc.
I'm not sure it is accurate to label Honolulu as "overpriced," which by definition means
priced excessively high. Given the fact that almost everything has to be imported thousands of miles and land is scarce, one could argue that the prices are perfectly reasonable, given the limited supply and high demand.
A salient point, the writer of the article concludes with the following statement: "Perhaps the Most Overpriced list, as we call it, might better be dubbed simply Most Expensive."
The only way to objectively measure whether one thing is overpriced compared to something else is to compare relative costs and benefits, and see which has the better ratio. Unfortunately, while costs are fairly standardized (generally measured in currency, though, I suppose one could offer to barter for goods/services in some cases) the benefits are mostly subjective. For one individual, getting to lay on the beach may be a very highly rewarded activity, while for another, attending a play would be more important. Yet another may prefer a day on a fishing boat, while another prefers playing with one's children at a theme park.
I have not been to Hawaii, but feel it is safe to conjecture that a visit to Hawaii must bring benefits which could not be obtained elsewhere? For example, Pearl Harbor does not exist anywhere else, so if one values Pearl Harbor highly, is there a substitute? Would Gettysburg be a reasonable substitution? If one values the beach, could one look to South Carolina or Florida as a potential destination? If the island cuisine is what one is looking for, perhaps a trip to the Philippine Islands would substitute nicely. However, it seems disingenuous to propose these comparisons, as benefits cannot be realistically considered without evaluating all benefits within the location as a whole. I may find that Gettysburg scratches my war history itch, however, the sunny nights on the beach cannot be had. The cuisine on the Philippines may be excellent, but I do not have access to the great resort areas that Hawaii contains.
Much like a watch could be considered an extravagance to some, while to others a wardrobe necessity, the value of an experience can also vary tremendously from person to person. With that, I will take the position that spending money on a trip to Hawaii is certainly expensive, but for some people it may not feel overpriced.
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