Hawaii County, HI at a glance
Median household income
$78,639$6,553 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Hawaii County, HI?
HUD’s fair market rent for each size, against what a typical household here earns. Change the income to see yours.
How much is rent in Hawaii County, HI? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Hawaii County, HI, with the income each one takes if rent stays under 30% of it.
| Unit Size | Monthly Rent | Annual Rent | 30% Rule Min. Income | % of Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / Efficiency | $1,592 | $19,104 | $63,680 | 24.3% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $1,603 | $19,236 | $64,120 | 24.5% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $2,076 | $24,912 | $83,040 | 31.7% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $2,622 | $31,464 | $104,880 | 40% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $3,024 | $36,288 | $120,960 | 46.1% |
What a typical income covers in Hawaii County, HI
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $78,639 a year ($6,553 a month before tax).
What $78,639 leaves after Hawaii taxes
Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and Hawaii tax on the local median income. Change the salary to see yours.
Rent, jobs and pay in Hawaii
Living in Hawaii County, HI: common questions
What is the median household income in Hawaii County, HI?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Hawaii County, HI is $78,639 per year (approximately $6,553 per month).
What is the average rent in Hawaii County, HI?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $1,592 for a studio, $1,603 for one bedroom, $2,076 for two, $2,622 for three and $3,024 for four, utilities included.
It is not an average of listings. HUD sets it at the rent 40% of recent movers paid or less for a standard unit, so a new lease on a nicer place will usually cost more.
Is Hawaii County, HI expensive to live in?
Prices there run 10% above the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for Hawaii is 110.0, where the U.S. is 100. Rent moves the number most: housing is where places differ, while goods cost about the same everywhere.
How much do you need to earn to comfortably afford rent in Hawaii County, HI?
To keep a $2,076 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $83,040 a year, or $6,920 a month. That is 106% of what the typical household in Hawaii County, HI earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Hawaii County, HI?
On the local median income of $78,639 ($6,553 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $3,277 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $1,966 for everything else and $1,311 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $2,076 takes 63% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Hawaii County, HI?
Homes in Hawaii paid 52.7¢ per kWh on average (EIA). At 900 kWh a month, a typical use, that is about $474. Your bill depends mostly on heating and cooling.