Can A Police Officer Afford Rent in Waikoloa, HI?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 46.4% of gross income.

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

Waikoloa median rent
$3,230/mo
Police Officer salary (Hawaii)
$83,452/yr
Rent as % of income
46.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $6,954, and the 30% rule supports up to $2,086/mo in rent. Waikoloa's median rent of $3,230 exceeds that threshold by $1,144/mo, putting a police officer salary into the rent-burdened range here. A police officer works roughly 80.5 hours a month to cover that rent.

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 Waikoloa, which improves the affordability math on a police officer salary:

Kapolei, HI
$3,223/mo (46.3% of income)
Wailuku, HI
$3,220/mo (46.3% of income)
Kapolei, HI
$3,211/mo (46.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Waikoloa

View full rent data for Waikoloa, HI

Frequently asked questions

Can a police officer afford rent in Waikoloa, HI?

Median rent in Waikoloa is $3,230 a month. A typical police officer in Hawaii earns about $83,452 a year, which makes that rent 46.4% 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 Waikoloa?

Using the 30% rule, a police officer salary in Hawaii (~$83,452/yr) supports up to $2,086 a month in rent. Waikoloa's current median rent is $3,230/mo, which is $1,144/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a police officer work to cover rent in Waikoloa?

At an hourly equivalent of about $40 an hour, a police officer in Hawaii works roughly 80.5 hours a month to cover Waikoloa's median rent of $3,230.

Where is rent cheaper than Waikoloa for a police officer?

Nearby Hawaii cities with lower median rent include Kapolei ($3,223/mo), Wailuku ($3,220/mo), Kapolei ($3,211/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a police officer salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived Hawaii state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Waikoloa, HI. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.