Can A Chef Afford Rent in Haiku, HI?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 61.1% of gross income.

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

Haiku median rent
$3,525/mo
Chef salary (Hawaii)
$69,282/yr
Rent as % of income
61.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,774, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,732/mo in rent. Haiku's median rent of $3,525 exceeds that threshold by $1,793/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 105.8 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a chef salary

Chef pay varies sharply by restaurant type, with executive chefs at high-end establishments earning materially above the BLS mean. At the national-average chef salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,604 a month in rent.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Hawaii cities have lower median rent than Haiku, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Kailua, HI
$3,505/mo (60.7% of income)
Kailua, HI
$3,496/mo (60.6% of income)
Kailua, HI
$3,492/mo (60.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Haiku

View full rent data for Haiku, HI

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Haiku, HI?

Median rent in Haiku is $3,525 a month. A typical chef in Hawaii earns about $69,282 a year, which makes that rent 61.1% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a chef afford in Haiku?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Hawaii (~$69,282/yr) supports up to $1,732 a month in rent. Haiku's current median rent is $3,525/mo, which is $1,793/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a chef work to cover rent in Haiku?

At an hourly equivalent of about $33 an hour, a chef in Hawaii works roughly 105.8 hours a month to cover Haiku's median rent of $3,525.

Where is rent cheaper than Haiku for a chef?

Nearby Hawaii cities with lower median rent include Kailua ($3,505/mo), Kailua ($3,496/mo), Kailua ($3,492/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.

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