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

Rent-burdened — rent takes 96.3% of gross income.

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

Kailua Kona median rent
$3,433/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Hawaii)
$42,779/yr
Rent as % of income
96.3%
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 $3,433 exceeds that threshold by $2,364/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 166.9 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:

Wailuku, HI
$3,427/mo (96.1% of income)
Kapolei, HI
$3,420/mo (95.9% of income)
Waialua, HI
$3,407/mo (95.6% 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 $3,433 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Hawaii earns about $42,779 a year, which makes that rent 96.3% 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 $3,433/mo, which is $2,364/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 166.9 hours a month to cover Kailua Kona's median rent of $3,433.

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

Nearby Hawaii cities with lower median rent include Wailuku ($3,427/mo), Kapolei ($3,420/mo), Waialua ($3,407/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.