Can A Police Officer Afford Rent in Kailua Kona, HI?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 49.4% of gross income.
Kailua Kona rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Hawaii state estimate).
About rent and a police officer salary
The gap between a police officer's base pay and the rent in the city they patrol is a widely tracked local affordability question. Many large-city departments now publish recruitment materials that include a local-rent comparison, because affordability has become a recruiting issue. At the national-average officer base pay, the 30% rule supports about $1,932 a month in rent. The per-city pages combine local rent with local officer-pay estimates to show where rent stays within that range.
Cheaper rent nearby
These Hawaii cities have lower median rent than Kailua Kona, which improves the affordability math on a police officer salary:
Compare with full rent data for Kailua Kona
View full rent data for Kailua Kona, HI →Frequently asked questions
Can a police officer afford rent in Kailua Kona, HI?
Median rent in Kailua Kona is $3,433 a month. A typical police officer in Hawaii earns about $83,452 a year, which makes that rent 49.4% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.
How much rent can a police officer afford in Kailua Kona?
Using the 30% rule, a police officer salary in Hawaii (~$83,452/yr) supports up to $2,086 a month in rent. Kailua Kona's current median rent is $3,433/mo, which is $1,347/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a police officer work to cover rent in Kailua Kona?
At an hourly equivalent of about $40 an hour, a police officer in Hawaii works roughly 85.6 hours a month to cover Kailua Kona's median rent of $3,433.
Where is rent cheaper than Kailua Kona for a police officer?
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 police officer salary.