Can A Police Officer Afford Rent in Makawao, HI?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 54.8% of gross income.
Makawao 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 Makawao, which improves the affordability math on a police officer salary:
Compare with full rent data for Makawao
View full rent data for Makawao, HI →Frequently asked questions
Can a police officer afford rent in Makawao, HI?
Median rent in Makawao is $3,808 a month. A typical police officer in Hawaii earns about $83,452 a year, which makes that rent 54.8% 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 Makawao?
Using the 30% rule, a police officer salary in Hawaii (~$83,452/yr) supports up to $2,086 a month in rent. Makawao's current median rent is $3,808/mo, which is $1,722/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a police officer work to cover rent in Makawao?
At an hourly equivalent of about $40 an hour, a police officer in Hawaii works roughly 94.9 hours a month to cover Makawao's median rent of $3,808.
Where is rent cheaper than Makawao for a police officer?
Nearby Hawaii cities with lower median rent include Kihei ($3,804/mo), Waikoloa ($3,800/mo), Kihei ($3,766/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a police officer salary.