Rents are 4% below what Waianae'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 $2,185 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 Waianae is 3.8% below its high of $2,271 in November 2025, at $2,185 as of September 2026.
Rent in Waianae changed -1.0% over the year to September 2026. Across the 15 Hawaii cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +5.1%.
Rent has fallen 4 months in a row, and rose in 4 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($81,733) is $2,043 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($1,800); a 2-bedroom is $2,360.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Waianae. 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
Waianae, HI is majority owner-occupied, has a large share of families with children, 13.2% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Waianae, HI has changed in 5 years
Across the past five years, the going rent in Waianae, HI has shifted from $1,895 to $2,185, up 15.3% since 2023. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $71,681 in 2021 to $81,733 more recently. Census counts show Waianae, HI losing about 1,234 residents over the five-year window, down 8.7% on net. The renter share has eased from 37.5% to 33.3%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the Waianae, HI market of 2023.
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Can you afford rent in Waianae on your salary?
At $2,185/mo, how Waianae rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Waianae rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Waianae. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Waianae
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Waianae is $2,185/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,660/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,360/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,800/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $3,310/mo.
At 32% of local median household income ($81,733/yr), Waianae ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have decreased 1.0% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Waianae?
Is rent going up or down in Waianae?
How does Waianae rent compare to other cities in Hawaii?
At $2,185/mo, rent takes ~32% of Waianae's median household income ($81,733/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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