Rents are 2% below what Pearl City's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $2,422 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
Rent in Pearl City is 3.6% below its high of $2,513 in April 2026, at $2,422 as of September 2026.
Rent in Pearl City changed +5.1% over the year to September 2026. Across the 15 Hawaii cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +5.1%.
Rent rose in 6 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($118,112) is $2,953 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($2,780); a 3-bedroom is $3,900.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Pearl City. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
Pearl City, HI is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, has a median income above the national average, 39% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Pearl City, HI has changed in 5 years
Since 2023, the typical rent in Pearl City, HI has increased from $2,005 to $2,422, a 20.8% change over five years. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $108,772 in 2021 to $118,112 more recently. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has contracted by 3.0% since 2021, moving from about 45,941 residents to roughly 44,547. College-educated residents now make up 39% of adults here, versus 36.3% in 2021. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the Pearl City, HI market of 2023.
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Can you afford rent in Pearl City on your salary?
At $2,422/mo, how Pearl City rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Pearl City rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Pearl City. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Pearl City
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Pearl City is $2,422/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,950/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,780/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,120/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $3,900/mo.
At 25% of local median household income ($118,112/yr), Pearl City ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 5.1% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Pearl City?
Is rent going up or down in Pearl City?
How does Pearl City rent compare to other cities in Hawaii?
At $2,422/mo, rent takes ~25% of Pearl City's median household income ($118,112/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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