Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Wahiawa, HI?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 65.4% of gross income.

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

Wahiawa median rent
$2,332/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Hawaii)
$42,779/yr
Rent as % of income
65.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,565, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,069/mo in rent. Wahiawa's median rent of $2,332 exceeds that threshold by $1,263/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 113.4 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 Wahiawa, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Pearl City, HI
$2,319/mo (65.1% of income)
Pearl City, HI
$2,304/mo (64.6% of income)
Pearl City, HI
$2,296/mo (64.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Wahiawa

View full rent data for Wahiawa, HI →

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Wahiawa, HI?

Median rent in Wahiawa is $2,332 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Hawaii earns about $42,779 a year, which makes that rent 65.4% 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 Wahiawa?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Hawaii (~$42,779/yr) supports up to $1,069 a month in rent. Wahiawa's current median rent is $2,332/mo, which is $1,263/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $21 an hour, a nursing assistant in Hawaii works roughly 113.4 hours a month to cover Wahiawa's median rent of $2,332.

Where is rent cheaper than Wahiawa for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Hawaii cities with lower median rent include Pearl City ($2,319/mo), Pearl City ($2,304/mo), Pearl City ($2,296/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 Wahiawa, HI. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.