Can A Registered Nurse Afford Rent in Honolulu, HI?
Stretched but workable — rent takes 31.3% of gross income.
Honolulu rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Hawaii state estimate).
About rent and a registered nurse salary
Rent is the single largest fixed cost most renters carry, and the rent-to-income ratio is the simplest measure of whether a city is livable on a given salary. For renters earning a typical registered-nurse income, the 30% rule supports about $2,360 a month in rent. That margin covers comfortable one-bedroom rent in the vast majority of US metros but tightens significantly in the highest-rent coastal cities, where rent can claim 40% or more of an RN paycheck. The per-city pages below show the local rent, the local nurse-pay estimate, and where that combination sits on the affordability scale.
Cheaper rent nearby
These Hawaii cities have lower median rent than Honolulu, which improves the affordability math on a registered nurse salary:
Compare with full rent data for Honolulu
View full rent data for Honolulu, HI →Frequently asked questions
Can a registered nurse afford rent in Honolulu, HI?
Median rent in Honolulu is $2,660 a month. A typical registered nurse in Hawaii earns about $102,038 a year, which makes that rent 31.3% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.
How much rent can a registered nurse afford in Honolulu?
Using the 30% rule, a registered nurse salary in Hawaii (~$102,038/yr) supports up to $2,551 a month in rent. Honolulu's current median rent is $2,660/mo, which is $109/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a registered nurse work to cover rent in Honolulu?
At an hourly equivalent of about $49 an hour, a registered nurse in Hawaii works roughly 54.2 hours a month to cover Honolulu's median rent of $2,660.
Where is rent cheaper than Honolulu for a registered nurse?
Nearby Hawaii cities with lower median rent include Waipahu ($2,657/mo), Mililani ($2,653/mo), Kailua ($2,650/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a registered nurse salary.