Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Kailua Kona, HI?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 62.6% of gross income.

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

Kailua Kona median rent
$3,433/mo
Carpenter salary (Hawaii)
$65,815/yr
Rent as % of income
62.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,485, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,645/mo in rent. Kailua Kona's median rent of $3,433 exceeds that threshold by $1,788/mo, putting a carpenter salary into the rent-burdened range here. A carpenter works roughly 108.5 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a carpenter salary

Carpenter pay sits modestly above the US median household income and covers comfortable rent in most lower- and mid-cost metros. Union carpenters in high-cost cities often earn well above the BLS mean. At the national-average carpenter salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,524 a month in rent.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Hawaii cities have lower median rent than Kailua Kona, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:

Wailuku, HI
$3,427/mo (62.5% of income)
Kapolei, HI
$3,420/mo (62.4% of income)
Waialua, HI
$3,407/mo (62.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Kailua Kona

View full rent data for Kailua Kona, HI

Frequently asked questions

Can a carpenter afford rent in Kailua Kona, HI?

Median rent in Kailua Kona is $3,433 a month. A typical carpenter in Hawaii earns about $65,815 a year, which makes that rent 62.6% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a carpenter afford in Kailua Kona?

Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in Hawaii (~$65,815/yr) supports up to $1,645 a month in rent. Kailua Kona's current median rent is $3,433/mo, which is $1,788/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a carpenter work to cover rent in Kailua Kona?

At an hourly equivalent of about $32 an hour, a carpenter in Hawaii works roughly 108.5 hours a month to cover Kailua Kona's median rent of $3,433.

Where is rent cheaper than Kailua Kona for a carpenter?

Nearby Hawaii cities with lower median rent include Wailuku ($3,427/mo), Kapolei ($3,420/mo), Waialua ($3,407/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a carpenter salary.

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