Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Kapolei, HI?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 104% of gross income.
Kapolei rent: June 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 Kapolei, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:
Compare with full rent data for Kapolei
View full rent data for Kapolei, HI →Frequently asked questions
Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Kapolei, HI?
Median rent in Kapolei is $3,420 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Hawaii earns about $39,452 a year, which makes that rent 104% 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 Kapolei?
Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Hawaii (~$39,452/yr) supports up to $986 a month in rent. Kapolei's current median rent is $3,420/mo, which is $2,434/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in Kapolei?
At an hourly equivalent of about $19 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Hawaii works roughly 180.3 hours a month to cover Kapolei's median rent of $3,420.
Where is rent cheaper than Kapolei for a waiter or waitress?
Nearby Hawaii cities with lower median rent include Waialua ($3,407/mo), Wailuku ($3,395/mo), Haleiwa ($3,387/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.