How much rent can you afford in Kailua Kona, HI?
Run your salary against Kailua Kona's current rent, or find the income you'd need for a target rent. Powered by live RentDataNow medians.
The 30% rent rule, in Kailua Kona
At a median rent of $2,961/mo, Kailua Kona is moderately stretched when measured against Hawaii median income of $98,317/yr. Rent would consume roughly 36% of pre-tax income, and a salary of about $118,440 keeps rent at the recommended 30% threshold.
Based on Hawaii median income. Kailua Kona-specific income data isn't available yet, so state-level medians are used as a proxy.
How Kailua Kona compares nearby
Median rent for the closest cities with data.
Frequently asked
How much rent can I afford in Kailua Kona?
On a $98,317 salary (the Hawaii median income), the recommended ceiling is 30% of pre-tax income, or about $2,458/mo. Kailua Kona's median rent is $2,961/mo. Use the calculator on this page to run your own salary.
What salary do I need to live in Kailua Kona?
To keep Kailua Kona's $2,961/mo median rent under 30% of income, you'd need about $118,440/yr. Lower your target share (e.g. 25%) to need more, or raise it (e.g. 40%) to need less.
Is Kailua Kona affordable on the median Hawaii income?
Kailua Kona is moderately stretched on a $98,317 income. Rent would take 36% 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".