How much rent can you afford in Hilo, HI?
Run your salary against Hilo's current rent, or find the income you'd need for a target rent. Powered by live RentDataNow medians.
The 30% rent rule, in Hilo
At a median rent of $2,095/mo, Hilo is moderately stretched when measured against Hilo median household income of $81,779/yr. Rent would consume roughly 31% of pre-tax income, and a salary of about $83,800 keeps rent at the recommended 30% threshold.
How Hilo compares nearby
Median rent for the closest cities with data.
Frequently asked
How much rent can I afford in Hilo?
On a $81,779 salary (the Hilo median household income), the recommended ceiling is 30% of pre-tax income, or about $2,044/mo. Hilo's median rent is $2,095/mo. Use the calculator on this page to run your own salary.
What salary do I need to live in Hilo?
To keep Hilo's $2,095/mo median rent under 30% of income, you'd need about $83,800/yr. Lower your target share (e.g. 25%) to need more, or raise it (e.g. 40%) to need less.
Is Hilo affordable on the median Hawaii income?
Hilo is moderately stretched on a $81,779 income. Rent would take 31% of pre-tax pay, outside the recommended 30% threshold.
What's the 30% rent rule?
The 30% rule is a long-standing budgeting guideline that keeps rent at or below 30% of gross (pre-tax) income. It leaves enough room for utilities, transit, savings, and debt service. In high-cost markets, many renters exceed 30%, and the Census Bureau classifies households paying more than 30% of income on rent as "cost-burdened".