Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Waianae, HI?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 50.1% of gross income.

Waianae rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Hawaii state estimate).

Waianae median rent
$2,336/mo
Bus Driver salary (Hawaii)
$55,966/yr
Rent as % of income
50.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,664, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,399/mo in rent. Waianae's median rent of $2,336 exceeds that threshold by $937/mo, putting a bus driver salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bus driver works roughly 86.8 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a bus driver salary

Transit bus driver pay sits near the US median household income, with municipal and unionized routes often paying more. At the national-average bus driver salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,296 a month in rent.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Hawaii cities have lower median rent than Waianae, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Pearl City, HI
$2,333/mo (50% of income)
Aiea, HI
$2,321/mo (49.8% of income)
Pearl City, HI
$2,314/mo (49.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Waianae

View full rent data for Waianae, HI

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Waianae, HI?

Median rent in Waianae is $2,336 a month. A typical bus driver in Hawaii earns about $55,966 a year, which makes that rent 50.1% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a bus driver afford in Waianae?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Hawaii (~$55,966/yr) supports up to $1,399 a month in rent. Waianae's current median rent is $2,336/mo, which is $937/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a bus driver work to cover rent in Waianae?

At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a bus driver in Hawaii works roughly 86.8 hours a month to cover Waianae's median rent of $2,336.

Where is rent cheaper than Waianae for a bus driver?

Nearby Hawaii cities with lower median rent include Pearl City ($2,333/mo), Aiea ($2,321/mo), Pearl City ($2,314/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bus driver salary.

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