Can A Registered Nurse Afford Rent in Wailuku, HI?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 43.4% of gross income.
Wailuku 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 Wailuku, which improves the affordability math on a registered nurse salary:
Compare with full rent data for Wailuku
View full rent data for Wailuku, HI →Frequently asked questions
Can a registered nurse afford rent in Wailuku, HI?
Median rent in Wailuku is $3,691 a month. A typical registered nurse in Hawaii earns about $102,038 a year, which makes that rent 43.4% 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 Wailuku?
Using the 30% rule, a registered nurse salary in Hawaii (~$102,038/yr) supports up to $2,551 a month in rent. Wailuku's current median rent is $3,691/mo, which is $1,140/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a registered nurse work to cover rent in Wailuku?
At an hourly equivalent of about $49 an hour, a registered nurse in Hawaii works roughly 75.2 hours a month to cover Wailuku's median rent of $3,691.
Where is rent cheaper than Wailuku for a registered nurse?
Nearby Hawaii cities with lower median rent include Kailua Kona ($3,652/mo), Kihei ($3,642/mo), Kailua ($3,626/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a registered nurse salary.