Why are sales tax and property taxes higher in mainland America?

I live in Honolulu, HI and every transplant from mainland America who moves here are complaining about the cost of living. Since there is limited land and a majority of the things we need and use are imported, everything is more expensive. However besides our income tax, sales tax and property taxes are really low. Sales tax is around 4.712% and our last property tax payment for 2011 was 3,700 dollars and our home is worth 1.2 Million dollars. I was planning to relocate to Seattle, WA. They have no state income tax and things are slightly cheaper but their sales tax and property taxes are really high. I heard sales tax in Seattle is around 9.5% and a home that is worth a little more than a million dollars was taxed 9,000+ dollars in 2011. Now Seattle is not the only places, many states in the mainland are like that.
@ Common Sense: I agree with Seattle and Texas but those are business friendly places and if I am able to own and operate my own business generating around 300-400k a year of net profits then It is worth it to live there because the state income tax in Hawaii is high.

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moving to seattle from honolulu…?

will I feel my dollars stretch. The comparison of seattle and honolulu with cost is very debatable. Some will say its cheaper in Seattle, some will say its the same or more worst. I know salaries are much higher in Seattle and there is no state income tax which gives seattle residents much more disposable income than honolulu residents. I am not really looking at adjustments when it comes to the cost of living, I want to compare expenses. My friend from Utah who now lives in Honolulu told me that if she moved directly from Utah to Hawaii the prices would drive her crazy but because she lived in Seattle for a few years it was much easier for her to adjust the cost in Hawaii. She told me its a bit cheaper in Seattle, rent can be a couple of hundred dollars cheaper than Hawaii but she didn’t elaborate that much. Her standard of living is kind of different which is why I can’t really tell if her facts about seattle is useful. I live in Kahala, Honolulu, HI and its an upscale neighborhood so my expectations are a bit high when buying or renting my own home. Reason why I want to move to Seattle? I hate the hot weather, Seattle is cold but not arctic cold like Alaska, I want to own a business someday and Hawaii is not the best state to start one. Out of all states in the West Coast, Seattle, WA is the most business friendly. Texas and other rural states in the heartland of America is more business friendly and much cheaper but I would never ever want to live in those places, not even set my foot in there. Too many racist and ignorant people who has never seen a local asian mixed boy from Hawaii.
An example that I want explanations would be like my experience in Norway. Norway’s prices are ridicuolous and is nothing compared to Hawaii. A meal from McDonalds would cost you in Norway and haircuts average 0. The prices are crazy to anyone from Hawaii but in Norway its normal or cheaper because the people there get paid more than we do. I want to compare prices in Seattle and Honolulu not adjustments of living.

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Are living expenses and taxes high in Seattle?

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Do people have to water their yard in Seattle?

property taxes might be double to tripple the amount compared to Honolulu where I live but because of the weather in Seattle/Bellevue I am assuming most people do not water plants? If so that would cut down water expenses by a lot.

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If I am from at state thy does not have sales tax do I have to pay it in states that do?

I am from Montana, and we do not have sales tax but I am visiting Phoenix az which does. When I went to Seattle they did not charge me for tax as long as I had my current id but in az they keep telling me they can’t do that?

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