What Does It Cost to Move to Kona, Hawaii?

Moving a household to Kona usually costs between a few thousand dollars and more than $20,000, depending on how much you ship. The big costs are a shipping container for household goods, shipping a car, and bringing pets. Maile Woodhall of Kona Organic Real Estate is a Kona born Realtor who helps buyers time the move with the home purchase.

Key takeaways

• Household goods go by ocean container. Plan on about $5,500 to $10,000 for a 20 foot container to the Big Island if you pack and load it yourself.

• Shipping one car from the West Coast runs about $2,600 to $2,925 with Matson.

• Each dog or cat costs about $315 to $515 for the State permit and the vet check in Kona, plus airfare and vet work before the flight.

• These are planning ranges, not quotes. Get written quotes from the carrier and a licensed mover.

• The free moving cost estimator on the Living in Kona page adds it up for you.

Shipping household goods

Most families ship by ocean container from a West Coast port. A two bedroom home usually fits a 20 foot container. A three bedroom home usually needs a 40 foot container.

Planning ranges for ocean shipping from the West Coast:

• 20 foot container: about $5,000 to $8,500.

• 40 foot container: about $8,000 to $14,000.

The Big Island is a neighbor island, so add about $500 to $1,500 for the transfer from Honolulu. If movers pack, load, and truck everything, add about $2,000 to $5,000 more.

Moving from the East Coast or far inland costs more, since your things have to get to the port first.

Shipping a car

Matson's published rate for a car from Long Beach or Oakland to the Big Island was $2,600 as of June 2026. A fuel surcharge brings it to about $2,925. Some families sell a car on the mainland and buy one in Kona. Compare both before you decide.

Bringing pets

Hawaiʻi is rabies free, and the State has strict rules for dogs and cats. Pets that meet every step of the State's program can be released at the Kona airport. The State permit for a Kona arrival is $165 per pet. A private vet must also check the pet at the airport, which usually runs about $150 to $350. Airfare, shots, blood tests, and the health certificate before the flight are extra. Start months ahead, since late paperwork can mean quarantine.

What the ranges do not include

• Plane tickets.

• A place to stay while you wait for your container.

• Storage if your home is not ready.

• A rental car while yours is on the ship.

Good timing cuts these costs. Maile Woodhall helps buyers line up the closing date, the container, and the flight so they are not paying for weeks of storage or a long rental.

Bring it or buy it here?

Some people ship everything. Others sell most of it, fly with suitcases, and furnish the home in Kona. Many Kona condos and second homes sell furnished, which can make a small shipment the better choice. Ask what stays with the home before you book a container.

Common questions

What does it cost to move to Kona, Hawaii?

It depends on what you bring. A 20 foot container to the Big Island runs about $5,500 to $10,000 if you pack it yourself, a car is about $2,600 to $2,925, and each pet is about $315 to $515 for the State permit and vet check. These are planning ranges, not quotes.

How much does it cost to ship a car to Kona?

Matson's published rate from Long Beach or Oakland to the Big Island was $2,600 as of June 2026, or about $2,925 with the fuel surcharge.

Can I bring my dog or cat to Kona?

Yes, if the pet meets every step of the State of Hawaiʻi program. The State permit for a Kona arrival is $165 per pet, and a private vet must check the pet at the airport. Start months ahead.

Is there a tool to estimate my moving cost to Kona?

Yes. The free moving cost estimator on konaorganicrealestate.com/kona gives a planning range for household goods, cars, and pets. No email is needed.

About the author: Maile Woodhall (pronounced Miley) is a licensed Hawaiʻi REALTOR (RS-88019) with The Agency Team Hawaii, eXp Realty (RB-21841), born and raised in Kona. Questions? Call or text (808) 482-5800.

Sources: Matson vehicle shipping rates, effective June 7, 2026; State of Hawaiʻi Animal Industry Division, animal quarantine fees. Container ranges are from a 2026 Hawaiʻi shipping guide. Maile Woodhall and eXp Realty are not movers or shipping companies. This article is a planning guide, not a quote.

Related guides: Buying a home in Kona; How do I bring my dog or cat to Kona, Hawaii?; How do I buy a home in Kona if I live on the mainland?; Relocating to the Big Island from the Mainland: What to Know.

Last updated: October 2026.