Can A Retail Salesperson Afford Rent in Waialua, HI?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 102.1% of gross income.

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

Waialua median rent
$3,407/mo
Retail Salesperson salary (Hawaii)
$40,036/yr
Rent as % of income
102.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,336, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,001/mo in rent. Waialua's median rent of $3,407 exceeds that threshold by $2,406/mo, putting a retail salesperson salary into the rent-burdened range here. A retail salesperson works roughly 177 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a retail salesperson salary

Retail pay sits below the rent threshold needed for solo apartment living in most US metros, which is the central tension behind the widely studied retail-housing affordability gap. At the national-average retail salary, the 30% rule supports about $927 a month in rent — below the median one-bedroom rent in nearly every metro tracked here. The per-city pages show which markets are least out of reach.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Hawaii cities have lower median rent than Waialua, which improves the affordability math on a retail salesperson salary:

Wailuku, HI
$3,395/mo (101.8% of income)
Haleiwa, HI
$3,387/mo (101.5% of income)
Kapolei, HI
$3,386/mo (101.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Waialua

View full rent data for Waialua, HI

Frequently asked questions

Can a retail salesperson afford rent in Waialua, HI?

Median rent in Waialua is $3,407 a month. A typical retail salesperson in Hawaii earns about $40,036 a year, which makes that rent 102.1% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a retail salesperson afford in Waialua?

Using the 30% rule, a retail salesperson salary in Hawaii (~$40,036/yr) supports up to $1,001 a month in rent. Waialua's current median rent is $3,407/mo, which is $2,406/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a retail salesperson work to cover rent in Waialua?

At an hourly equivalent of about $19 an hour, a retail salesperson in Hawaii works roughly 177 hours a month to cover Waialua's median rent of $3,407.

Where is rent cheaper than Waialua for a retail salesperson?

Nearby Hawaii cities with lower median rent include Wailuku ($3,395/mo), Haleiwa ($3,387/mo), Kapolei ($3,386/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a retail salesperson salary.

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