Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Waialua, HI?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 81.2% of gross income.

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

Waialua median rent
$2,893/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Hawaii)
$42,779/yr
Rent as % of income
81.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,565, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,069/mo in rent. Waialua's median rent of $2,893 exceeds that threshold by $1,824/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 140.7 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 Waialua, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Kailua Kona, HI
$2,877/mo (80.7% of income)
Waipahu, HI
$2,876/mo (80.7% of income)
Mililani, HI
$2,870/mo (80.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Waialua

View full rent data for Waialua, HI

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Waialua, HI?

Median rent in Waialua is $2,893 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Hawaii earns about $42,779 a year, which makes that rent 81.2% 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 Waialua?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Hawaii (~$42,779/yr) supports up to $1,069 a month in rent. Waialua's current median rent is $2,893/mo, which is $1,824/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $21 an hour, a nursing assistant in Hawaii works roughly 140.7 hours a month to cover Waialua's median rent of $2,893.

Where is rent cheaper than Waialua for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Hawaii cities with lower median rent include Kailua Kona ($2,877/mo), Waipahu ($2,876/mo), Mililani ($2,870/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 Waialua, HI. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.