Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Aiea, HI?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 85.6% of gross income.
Aiea rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Hawaii state estimate).
About rent and a waiter or waitress salary
Declared server pay (base plus reported tips) sits below the rent threshold needed for a one-bedroom apartment in most US cities, which is why the server workforce tends to live in shared housing. Actual tip income varies widely and can push real take-home well above the BLS figure, particularly in fine-dining and high-volume restaurants. At the national-average declared server salary, the 30% rule supports about $913 a month in rent. The per-city pages show which markets keep rent within that range.
Cheaper rent nearby
These Hawaii cities have lower median rent than Aiea, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:
Compare with full rent data for Aiea
View full rent data for Aiea, HI →Frequently asked questions
Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Aiea, HI?
Median rent in Aiea is $2,814 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Hawaii earns about $39,452 a year, which makes that rent 85.6% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.
How much rent can a waiter or waitress afford in Aiea?
Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Hawaii (~$39,452/yr) supports up to $986 a month in rent. Aiea's current median rent is $2,814/mo, which is $1,828/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in Aiea?
At an hourly equivalent of about $19 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Hawaii works roughly 148.4 hours a month to cover Aiea's median rent of $2,814.
Where is rent cheaper than Aiea for a waiter or waitress?
Nearby Hawaii cities with lower median rent include Kailua Kona ($2,811/mo), Mililani ($2,802/mo), Kailua Kona ($2,795/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.