Can A Chef Afford Rent in Wahiawa, HI?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 41.3% of gross income.

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

Wahiawa median rent
$2,385/mo
Chef salary (Hawaii)
$69,282/yr
Rent as % of income
41.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,774, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,732/mo in rent. Wahiawa's median rent of $2,385 exceeds that threshold by $653/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 71.6 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 Wahiawa, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Pearl City, HI
$2,382/mo (41.3% of income)
Aiea, HI
$2,380/mo (41.2% of income)
Aiea, HI
$2,365/mo (41% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Wahiawa

View full rent data for Wahiawa, HI

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Wahiawa, HI?

Median rent in Wahiawa is $2,385 a month. A typical chef in Hawaii earns about $69,282 a year, which makes that rent 41.3% 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 Wahiawa?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Hawaii (~$69,282/yr) supports up to $1,732 a month in rent. Wahiawa's current median rent is $2,385/mo, which is $653/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $33 an hour, a chef in Hawaii works roughly 71.6 hours a month to cover Wahiawa's median rent of $2,385.

Where is rent cheaper than Wahiawa for a chef?

Nearby Hawaii cities with lower median rent include Pearl City ($2,382/mo), Aiea ($2,380/mo), Aiea ($2,365/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 Wahiawa, HI. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.