Urban Honolulu, HI at a glance
Median household income
$86,504$7,209 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Urban Honolulu, 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 Urban Honolulu, 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 | 26% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $2,016 | $24,192 | $80,640 | 28% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $2,642 | $31,704 | $105,680 | 36.7% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $3,674 | $44,088 | $146,960 | 51% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $4,432 | $53,184 | $177,280 | 61.5% |
What a typical income covers in Urban Honolulu, HI
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $86,504 a year ($7,209 a month before tax).
What $86,504 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 Urban Honolulu, HI: common questions
What is the median household income in Urban Honolulu, HI?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Urban Honolulu, HI is $86,504 per year (approximately $7,209 per month).
What is the average rent in Urban Honolulu, 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 Urban Honolulu, 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 Urban Honolulu, 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 122% of what the typical household in Urban Honolulu, HI earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Urban Honolulu, HI?
On the local median income of $86,504 ($7,209 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $3,604 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $2,163 for everything else and $1,442 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $2,642 takes 73% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Urban Honolulu, 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.