Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Ewa Beach, HI?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 108.6% of gross income.

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

Ewa Beach median rent
$3,572/mo
Waiter or Waitress salary (Hawaii)
$39,452/yr
Rent as % of income
108.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,288, and the 30% rule supports up to $986/mo in rent. Ewa Beach's median rent of $3,572 exceeds that threshold by $2,586/mo, putting a waiter or waitress salary into the rent-burdened range here. A waiter or waitress works roughly 188.3 hours a month to cover that rent.

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 Ewa Beach, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:

Kihei, HI
$3,571/mo (108.6% of income)
Kihei, HI
$3,568/mo (108.5% of income)
Kailua, HI
$3,566/mo (108.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Ewa Beach

View full rent data for Ewa Beach, HI

Frequently asked questions

Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Ewa Beach, HI?

Median rent in Ewa Beach is $3,572 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Hawaii earns about $39,452 a year, which makes that rent 108.6% 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 Ewa Beach?

Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Hawaii (~$39,452/yr) supports up to $986 a month in rent. Ewa Beach's current median rent is $3,572/mo, which is $2,586/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in Ewa Beach?

At an hourly equivalent of about $19 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Hawaii works roughly 188.3 hours a month to cover Ewa Beach's median rent of $3,572.

Where is rent cheaper than Ewa Beach for a waiter or waitress?

Nearby Hawaii cities with lower median rent include Kihei ($3,571/mo), Kihei ($3,568/mo), Kailua ($3,566/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.

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