Can An Auto Mechanic Afford Rent in Kihei, HI?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 67% of gross income.

Kihei rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Hawaii state estimate).

Kihei median rent
$3,092/mo
Auto Mechanic salary (Hawaii)
$55,372/yr
Rent as % of income
67%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,614, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,384/mo in rent. Kihei's median rent of $3,092 exceeds that threshold by $1,708/mo, putting an auto mechanic salary into the rent-burdened range here. An auto mechanic works roughly 116.1 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and an auto mechanic salary

Auto mechanic pay covers comfortable rent in most lower- and mid-cost US metros and stretches thin in the highest-cost ones. Master techs and dealership flat-rate techs often earn well above the BLS figure, which expands affordability further. At the national-average mechanic salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,282 a month in rent. The per-city pages show which markets stay in range.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Hawaii cities have lower median rent than Kihei, which improves the affordability math on an auto mechanic salary:

Lahaina, HI
$3,078/mo (66.7% of income)
Wailuku, HI
$3,068/mo (66.5% of income)
Waialua, HI
$3,053/mo (66.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Kihei

View full rent data for Kihei, HI →

Frequently asked questions

Can an auto mechanic afford rent in Kihei, HI?

Median rent in Kihei is $3,092 a month. A typical auto mechanic in Hawaii earns about $55,372 a year, which makes that rent 67% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can an auto mechanic afford in Kihei?

Using the 30% rule, an auto mechanic salary in Hawaii (~$55,372/yr) supports up to $1,384 a month in rent. Kihei's current median rent is $3,092/mo, which is $1,708/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does an auto mechanic work to cover rent in Kihei?

At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, an auto mechanic in Hawaii works roughly 116.1 hours a month to cover Kihei's median rent of $3,092.

Where is rent cheaper than Kihei for an auto mechanic?

Nearby Hawaii cities with lower median rent include Lahaina ($3,078/mo), Wailuku ($3,068/mo), Waialua ($3,053/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on an auto mechanic salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived Hawaii state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Kihei, HI. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.