In a recent study of household debt, Hawaii came in dead last.
Residents of the Aloha State are paying more debt relative to their incomes than residents of any other state, according to a , a company that helps consumers compare loan terms.
The study found Hawaii residents on average spend more than 36 percent of their income on debt. Washington came next, with just over 32 percent.
Hawaii residents generally spend $238 per month on credit card debt, higher than the national average of $207. Only Minnesota residents have higher monthly credit card debt at $241 per month.
The average student loan payment is $385 per month in Hawaii, just up from the national average of $370. The average monthly housing payment in the Aloha State is $1,091 鈥斅爐he fourth highest in the nation. The national average for housing costs was $906.
Overall, the study found the average monthly debt in Hawaii is $1,714, compared to the national average of $1,500 per month for debt including credit card bills, student loans and housing.
The debt wouldn’t be so burdensome if incomes were higher. But the study found the average income in Hawaii is $56,889. That’s a lot lower than other expensive states like New York, where the average income is nearly $65,000 or California, where the average income exceeds $71,000.
The results aren’t surprising in Hawaii, where the high cost of living is a persistent problem and salaries are unusually low. The state is largely dependent on the tourism and service industries and lacks the same number of high-paying jobs you can find in the Bay Area or New York.
Credible’s findings are in line with previous similar studies. Last year, the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism found Hawaii’s was the second highest in the nation.
A study from a local nonprofit in January found nearly half of Hawaii residents struggle to make ends meet and another study by the real estate website Apartment List last fall found that paying rent in Hawaii just keeps getting harder.
The high cost of living is part of the reason why lawmakers are considering raising the minimum wage and increasing regulations for high-interest payday loans.
from Credible or check out this interactive map:
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Anita Hofschneider is a reporter for Civil Beat. You can reach her by email at anita@civilbeat.org or follow her on Twitter at .