How much does it cost to rent in Waipahu, HI?

As of August 2026, the median monthly rent in Waipahu, HI is $2,897. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Waipahu cheaper than other Hawaii cities?

Waipahu falls in the middle range for Hawaii, ranking #13 out of 21 cities at $2,897/mo.

When was Waipahu rent data last updated?

Waipahu rent data reflects August 2026 and was last refreshed on August 17, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

What is the Fair Market Rent in Waipahu, HI?

HUD sets the Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom home in Waipahu, HI at $2,410 per month, which is 17% below the $2,897 market median. Fair Market Rent is the Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) payment standard. It is a 40th-percentile gross rent that includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash, and HUD updates it once a year, so it measures something different from current market asking rent.

City Report · HI

Waipahu

Name: Average Rent Prices in Waipahu, HI
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Pop. 40,482·13th most expensive in Hawaii·Waipahu rents are up 10.4% over the past year

Median rent (all units)

$2,897/mo

Year-over-Year

+10.4%

Month-over-Month

+0.7%

vs US Median

+$935

Rising (Monthly)

Be the first to discuss Waipahu rents ↓

Most AffordableMost Expensive

Waipahu · $2,897

More expensive than 89% of US cities · National median $1,962/mo

Rent Reality Score

27/100

Overpriced

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 11% above what Waipahu's 10-year trend predicts — running hotter than its own history.

Actual rent

$2,897/mo

Expected by trend

$2,601/mo

The Rent Reality Score compares today's median rent to where Waipahu's own long-run trajectory projects it should be. See the full rankings →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,690

1 BR

$1,840

2 BR

$2,410

3 BR

$3,380

4 BR+

$4,050

Fair Market Rent (HUD)

$2,410/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $2,897 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 →

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: August 17, 2026

Annual cost

$34,764/yr

At $2,897/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 10.4% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+10.4% YoY, +0.7% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Waipahu, HI is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, has a median income above the national average, 20.1% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

40,482

Median income

$103,895

Median age

40.2

Renters

40.3%

Age distribution

20.6%

23.6%

22.4%

12%

21.3%

Under 1820.6%

18–3423.6%

35–5422.4%

55–6412%

65+21.3%

Gender

47.9%

52.1%

Male47.9%

Female52.1%

Race & ethnicity

70.1%

20.5%

White2.8%

Black0.8%

Hispanic5.8%

Asian70.1%

Other20.5%

Education (25+)

13.9%

34%

32%

20.1%

No HS diploma13.9%

HS diploma34%

Some college32%

Bachelor's+20.1%

Housing tenure

59.7%

40.3%

Owner59.7%

Renter40.3%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Waipahu, HI has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,883 → $2,897

up 53.9%

Income

$83,671 → $103,895

up 24.2%

Population

39,927 → 40,482

up 1.4%

Renter share

44.6% → 40.3%

-4.3 pts

Bachelor's+

17.9% → 20.1%

+2.2 pts

Median age

38.3 → 40.2

+1.9 yrs

Five years ago, renters in Waipahu, HI paid around $1,883 a month. That figure now sits near $2,897, up 53.9% from the 2021 baseline. Census figures show median household income at $103,895 today, compared with $83,671 five years earlier. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Census counts show Waipahu, HI adding about 555 residents over the five-year window, up 1.4% on net. The renter share has eased from 44.6% to 40.3%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 17.9% to 20.1% across the same window. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2021.

Community

Discussions about Waipahu

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View Waipahu rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Waipahu on your salary?

At $2,897/mo, how Waipahu rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $102,038/yr · Rent = 34.1% income

stretched

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $72,446/yr · Rent = 48% income

rent-burdened

Police Officer

Avg $83,452/yr · Rent = 41.7% income

rent-burdened

Software Developer

Avg $149,159/yr · Rent = 23.3% income

affordable

Lawyer

Avg $190,588/yr · Rent = 18.2% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $67,835/yr · Rent = 51.2% income

severely rent-burdened

Truck Driver

Avg $61,247/yr · Rent = 56.8% income

severely rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $75,492/yr · Rent = 46% income

rent-burdened

By apartment size

Waipahu rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Waipahu. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Waipahu

About renting in Waipahu, HI

Last updated: August 17, 2026

The median rent in Waipahu is $2,897/mo as of August 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,690/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,410/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,840/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $3,380/mo.

At 33% of local median household income ($103,895/yr), Waipahu ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 10.4% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Waipahu an affordable city for renters?

Waipahu is considered moderate for renters. At $2,897/mo, rent takes approximately 33% of the local median household income ($103,895/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Waipahu slightly exceeds that threshold, so budgeting carefully matters here.

How much income do you need to rent in Waipahu?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $116,000/year (~$56/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,897/mo in Waipahu. The local median household income is $103,895/yr, meaning the typical Waipahu household falls short of that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Waipahu?

Rent in Waipahu has increased 10.4% over the past year as of August 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

How does Waipahu rent compare to other cities in Hawaii?

Waipahu is middle-of-the-pack for Hawaii for rent, ranking #13 out of 21 tracked cities at $2,897/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Waipahu?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Waipahu ($2,897/mo): Pearl City ($2,591/mo), Aiea ($2,758/mo).

What percentage of Waipahu residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 40.3% of Waipahu households are renters, while 59.7% are owner-occupied. Waipahu leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.