Can A Chef Afford Rent in Kihei, HI?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 65.2% of gross income.

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

Kihei median rent
$3,766/mo
Chef salary (Hawaii)
$69,282/yr
Rent as % of income
65.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,774, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,732/mo in rent. Kihei's median rent of $3,766 exceeds that threshold by $2,034/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 113.1 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 Kihei, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Kailua, HI
$3,732/mo (64.6% of income)
Kailua Kona, HI
$3,725/mo (64.5% of income)
Kailua, HI
$3,724/mo (64.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Kihei

View full rent data for Kihei, HI

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Kihei, HI?

Median rent in Kihei is $3,766 a month. A typical chef in Hawaii earns about $69,282 a year, which makes that rent 65.2% 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 Kihei?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Hawaii (~$69,282/yr) supports up to $1,732 a month in rent. Kihei's current median rent is $3,766/mo, which is $2,034/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $33 an hour, a chef in Hawaii works roughly 113.1 hours a month to cover Kihei's median rent of $3,766.

Where is rent cheaper than Kihei for a chef?

Nearby Hawaii cities with lower median rent include Kailua ($3,732/mo), Kailua Kona ($3,725/mo), Kailua ($3,724/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 Kihei, HI. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.