Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Kapolei, HI?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 95.9% of gross income.

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

Kapolei median rent
$3,420/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Hawaii)
$42,779/yr
Rent as % of income
95.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,565, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,069/mo in rent. Kapolei's median rent of $3,420 exceeds that threshold by $2,351/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 166.3 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 Kapolei, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Waialua, HI
$3,407/mo (95.6% of income)
Wailuku, HI
$3,395/mo (95.2% of income)
Haleiwa, HI
$3,387/mo (95% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Kapolei

View full rent data for Kapolei, HI

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Kapolei, HI?

Median rent in Kapolei is $3,420 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Hawaii earns about $42,779 a year, which makes that rent 95.9% 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 Kapolei?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Hawaii (~$42,779/yr) supports up to $1,069 a month in rent. Kapolei's current median rent is $3,420/mo, which is $2,351/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $21 an hour, a nursing assistant in Hawaii works roughly 166.3 hours a month to cover Kapolei's median rent of $3,420.

Where is rent cheaper than Kapolei for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Hawaii cities with lower median rent include Waialua ($3,407/mo), Wailuku ($3,395/mo), Haleiwa ($3,387/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 Kapolei, HI. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.