Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Kailua Kona, HI?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 83.1% of gross income.

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

Kailua Kona median rent
$2,961/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Hawaii)
$42,779/yr
Rent as % of income
83.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,565, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,069/mo in rent. Kailua Kona's median rent of $2,961 exceeds that threshold by $1,892/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 144 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a nursing assistant salary

Nursing assistant (CNA) pay falls below the rent threshold for a one-bedroom in nearly every US metro, which is the central tension behind the widely studied direct-care workforce affordability gap. At the national-average CNA salary, the 30% rule supports about $990 a month in rent — below median rent in most cities. The per-city pages quantify how far below.

Cheaper rent nearby

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

Kaneohe, HI
$2,952/mo (82.8% of income)
Kaneohe, HI
$2,943/mo (82.6% of income)
Kaneohe, HI
$2,941/mo (82.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Kailua Kona

View full rent data for Kailua Kona, HI

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Kailua Kona, HI?

Median rent in Kailua Kona is $2,961 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Hawaii earns about $42,779 a year, which makes that rent 83.1% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a nursing assistant afford in Kailua Kona?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Hawaii (~$42,779/yr) supports up to $1,069 a month in rent. Kailua Kona's current median rent is $2,961/mo, which is $1,892/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $21 an hour, a nursing assistant in Hawaii works roughly 144 hours a month to cover Kailua Kona's median rent of $2,961.

Where is rent cheaper than Kailua Kona for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Hawaii cities with lower median rent include Kaneohe ($2,952/mo), Kaneohe ($2,943/mo), Kaneohe ($2,941/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a nursing assistant 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.