Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Kailua, HI?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 114.2% of gross income.
Kailua 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 Kailua, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:
Compare with full rent data for Kailua
View full rent data for Kailua, HI →Frequently asked questions
Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Kailua, HI?
Median rent in Kailua is $3,753 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Hawaii earns about $39,452 a year, which makes that rent 114.2% 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 Kailua?
Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Hawaii (~$39,452/yr) supports up to $986 a month in rent. Kailua's current median rent is $3,753/mo, which is $2,767/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in Kailua?
At an hourly equivalent of about $19 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Hawaii works roughly 197.9 hours a month to cover Kailua's median rent of $3,753.
Where is rent cheaper than Kailua for a waiter or waitress?
Nearby Hawaii cities with lower median rent include Haiku ($3,698/mo), Haleiwa ($3,650/mo), Haleiwa ($3,648/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.