Kauai County, HI at a glance
Median household income
$97,668$8,139 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Kauai 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 Kauai County, HI? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Kauai 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 | $1,766 | $21,192 | $70,640 | 21.7% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $1,777 | $21,324 | $71,080 | 21.8% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $2,332 | $27,984 | $93,280 | 28.7% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $2,866 | $34,392 | $114,640 | 35.2% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $3,179 | $38,148 | $127,160 | 39.1% |
What a typical income covers in Kauai County, HI
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $97,668 a year ($8,139 a month before tax).
What $97,668 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 Kauai County, HI: common questions
What is the median household income in Kauai County, HI?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Kauai County, HI is $97,668 per year (approximately $8,139 per month).
What is the average rent in Kauai County, HI?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $1,766 for a studio, $1,777 for one bedroom, $2,332 for two, $2,866 for three and $3,179 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 Kauai 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 Kauai County, HI?
To keep a $2,332 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $93,280 a year, or $7,773 a month. That is 96% of what the typical household in Kauai County, HI earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Kauai County, HI?
On the local median income of $97,668 ($8,139 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $4,070 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $2,442 for everything else and $1,628 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $2,332 takes 57% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Kauai 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.