Can A Registered Nurse Afford Rent in Kailua Kona, HI?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 40.4% of gross income.

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

Kailua Kona median rent
$3,433/mo
Registered Nurse salary (Hawaii)
$102,038/yr
Rent as % of income
40.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $8,503, and the 30% rule supports up to $2,551/mo in rent. Kailua Kona's median rent of $3,433 exceeds that threshold by $882/mo, putting a registered nurse salary into the rent-burdened range here. A registered nurse works roughly 70 hours a month to cover that rent.

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 Kailua Kona, which improves the affordability math on a registered nurse salary:

Wailuku, HI
$3,427/mo (40.3% of income)
Kapolei, HI
$3,420/mo (40.2% of income)
Waialua, HI
$3,407/mo (40.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Kailua Kona

View full rent data for Kailua Kona, HI

Frequently asked questions

Can a registered nurse afford rent in Kailua Kona, HI?

Median rent in Kailua Kona is $3,433 a month. A typical registered nurse in Hawaii earns about $102,038 a year, which makes that rent 40.4% 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 Kailua Kona?

Using the 30% rule, a registered nurse salary in Hawaii (~$102,038/yr) supports up to $2,551 a month in rent. Kailua Kona's current median rent is $3,433/mo, which is $882/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a registered nurse work to cover rent in Kailua Kona?

At an hourly equivalent of about $49 an hour, a registered nurse in Hawaii works roughly 70 hours a month to cover Kailua Kona's median rent of $3,433.

Where is rent cheaper than Kailua Kona for a registered nurse?

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 registered nurse salary.

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