Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Kapolei, HI?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 63.7% of gross income.

Kapolei rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Hawaii state estimate).

Kapolei median rent
$3,494/mo
Carpenter salary (Hawaii)
$65,815/yr
Rent as % of income
63.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,485, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,645/mo in rent. Kapolei's median rent of $3,494 exceeds that threshold by $1,849/mo, putting a carpenter salary into the rent-burdened range here. A carpenter works roughly 110.4 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 Kapolei, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:

Kailua, HI
$3,492/mo (63.7% of income)
Makawao, HI
$3,481/mo (63.5% of income)
Wailuku, HI
$3,471/mo (63.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Kapolei

View full rent data for Kapolei, HI

Frequently asked questions

Can a carpenter afford rent in Kapolei, HI?

Median rent in Kapolei is $3,494 a month. A typical carpenter in Hawaii earns about $65,815 a year, which makes that rent 63.7% 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 Kapolei?

Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in Hawaii (~$65,815/yr) supports up to $1,645 a month in rent. Kapolei's current median rent is $3,494/mo, which is $1,849/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $32 an hour, a carpenter in Hawaii works roughly 110.4 hours a month to cover Kapolei's median rent of $3,494.

Where is rent cheaper than Kapolei for a carpenter?

Nearby Hawaii cities with lower median rent include Kailua ($3,492/mo), Makawao ($3,481/mo), Wailuku ($3,471/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 Kapolei, HI. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.