Renting

Data from November 2026

Renting in Hawaii

The typical rent in Hawaii is $1,971 a month (Average 2020–2024). HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms is about $2,467 (Fiscal year 2027, population-weighted average): paying it without spending more than 30% of income takes $47.44 an hour full time. Here are the figures by size and by county, how many households spend too much, and where to ask for help.

How much rent can I afford? Where to get help

A white stucco house with palm trees in Los Angeles.

Typical rent: $1,971; per month, Average 2020–2024; 39% more than the U.S.
Fair market rent, 2 BR: $2,467; HUD, Fiscal year 2027, weighted average; From $2,081 to $2,656 depending on the county.
Wage needed: $47.44; per hour, 2 bedrooms; About $98,680 a year to stay under 30% of income.
Burdened households: 57%; spend 30% or more on rent; Nationwide, 51%.

Source: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates Average 2020–2024 American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (external site) Source: Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Fair Market Rents (HUD) (external site)

Fair market rent

What HUD sets by size

HUD publishes a fair market rent every year by area and home size; Section 8 and other programs use it to set what they cover. Here it runs from the cheapest to the most expensive area of Hawaii, with the hourly wage it takes to pay it without going past 30% of income (40 hours a week).

Includes basic utilities. It is neither the lowest nor the highest rent on the market: it is a reference point.

Fair market rent by size in Hawaii, Fiscal year 2027: lowest and highest value among its counties

Studio

Wage: $30.75–$35.58 an hour

Lowest: $1,599 Highest: $1,850
1 bedroom

Wage: $30.94–$39.04 an hour

Lowest: $1,609 Highest: $2,030
2 bedrooms

Wage: $40.02–$51.08 an hour

Lowest: $2,081 Highest: $2,656
3 bedrooms

Wage: $49.77–$67.69 an hour

Lowest: $2,588 Highest: $3,520
4 bedrooms

Wage: $55.96–$81.71 an hour

Lowest: $2,910 Highest: $4,249

Each bar runs from the cheapest area to the most expensive; all share one scale that starts at zero. Source: Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Fair Market Rents (HUD) (external site)

Rent burden

How many households spend too much

HUD counts rent as a burden when it reaches 30% of income or more. In Hawaii, 57% of renter households are in that position; nationwide, 51% (Average 2020–2024, Census).

Paying too much rent leaves little for food, transportation and savings. If that is you, the agencies below can guide you for free.

57%

of renter households spend 30% or more of their income on rent.

182,206 renter households in Hawaii

Spend half or more of their income 29%
Spend 30% or more, but less than half 28%
Spend less than 30% 43%

By place

Every county, with its figure

The 2-bedroom fair market rent, the typical rent, the hourly wage it takes and the share of burdened households, in every county in Hawaii. Highest fair market rent first.

Fair market rent, typical rent, wage needed and rent burden by county in Hawaii

Maui County	$2,656	$1,916	$51.08	56%
Honolulu County	$2,542	$2,083	$48.88	58%
Kalawao County	$2,326	—	$44.73	—
Kauai County	$2,105	$1,870	$40.48	52%
Hawaii County	$2,081	$1,510	$40.02	52%

Place Fair rent, 2 BRWage/hour
Maui $2,656$51.08
Honolulu $2,542$48.88
Kalawao $2,326$44.73
Kauai $2,105$40.48
Hawaii $2,081$40.02

Source: Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Fair Market Rents (HUD) (external site) Source: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates Average 2020–2024 American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (external site)

Your rights as a tenant in Hawaii

What Hawaii law says about deposits, notices and eviction, with the citation for each rule.

See your rights, rule by rule

A summary of state law, not legal advice. Cities may have additional rules.

How much can they charge for a deposit?: Up to 1 month of rent; Haw. Rev. Stat. §521-44(b)
When must they return my deposit?: 14 days; Haw. Rev. Stat. §521-44(c)
If I fall behind on rent, what notice must I get?: 10 calendar days; Haw. Rev. Stat. §521-68(a)
How much notice ends a month-to-month rental?: 45 days; Haw. Rev. Stat. §521-71(a)-(c)

Only a court order can remove youHaw. Rev. Stat. §521-63(c)
Repair and deduct from the rentHaw. Rev. Stat. §521-64(c)-(d)

Help

Where to ask for help with rent in Hawaii

Free or official help. Demand usually exceeds funding, so waiting lists are common: ask at the agency for your county.

6 public housing agencies

They run Section 8 vouchers and public housing.
See the agencies
17 counseling agencies

HUD-approved; 2 serve in Spanish. They counsel renters for free.
See the agencies
Tenant rights

Deposits, notices, repairs and evictions under Hawaii law.
See your rights

A Hispanic family shares a meal at the dinner table.

Tool

How much rent can you afford?

Enter your income and compare with the fair market rent in your county.

How much rent can I afford?

Frequently asked questions

Which county in Hawaii is the most expensive to rent in?

By 2-bedroom fair market rent (Fiscal year 2027), the most expensive is Maui County ($2,656, about $51.08 an hour) and the cheapest Hawaii County ($2,081, about $40.02 an hour).

How many households in Hawaii spend too much on rent?

57% of renter households in Hawaii spend 30% or more of their income on rent, and 29% spend half or more (Average 2020–2024, Census). Nationwide, 51%.

What is fair market rent?

A figure HUD publishes every year by area and home size; Section 8 and other programs use it to set what they pay. It is not a market price or a cap on landlords. In Hawaii, for 2 bedrooms in Fiscal year 2027, it runs from $2,081 to $2,656 depending on the county.

Where do I ask for help paying rent in Hawaii?

6 public housing agencies run Section 8 vouchers and public housing in Hawaii; demand usually exceeds funding and waiting lists are common. HUD-approved counseling agencies counsel for free. Your county page shows the nearest ones.