Honolulu County, HI at a glance
Median household income
$106,195$8,850 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Honolulu 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 Honolulu County, HI? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Urban Honolulu, HI MSA, 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 | $1,877 | $22,524 | $75,080 | 21.2% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $2,016 | $24,192 | $80,640 | 22.8% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $2,642 | $31,704 | $105,680 | 29.9% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $3,674 | $44,088 | $146,960 | 41.5% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $4,432 | $53,184 | $177,280 | 50.1% |
Rent in Honolulu County, HI, with the wage each unit needs →
What a typical income covers in Honolulu County, HI
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $106,195 a year ($8,850 a month before tax).
What $106,195 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 Honolulu County, HI: common questions
What is the median household income in Honolulu County, HI?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Honolulu County, HI is $106,195 per year (approximately $8,850 per month).
What is the average rent in Honolulu County, HI?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $1,877 for a studio, $2,016 for one bedroom, $2,642 for two, $3,674 for three and $4,432 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 Honolulu County, HI expensive to live in?
Prices there run 11% above the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for the metro area is 111.0, 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 Honolulu County, HI?
To keep a $2,642 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $105,680 a year, or $8,807 a month. That is 100% of what the typical household in Honolulu County, HI earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Honolulu County, HI?
On the local median income of $106,195 ($8,850 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $4,425 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $2,655 for everything else and $1,770 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $2,642 takes 60% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Honolulu 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.