Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Lahaina, HI?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 101.8% of gross income.
Lahaina 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 Lahaina, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:
Compare with full rent data for Lahaina
View full rent data for Lahaina, HI →Frequently asked questions
Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Lahaina, HI?
Median rent in Lahaina is $3,346 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Hawaii earns about $39,452 a year, which makes that rent 101.8% 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 Lahaina?
Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Hawaii (~$39,452/yr) supports up to $986 a month in rent. Lahaina's current median rent is $3,346/mo, which is $2,360/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in Lahaina?
At an hourly equivalent of about $19 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Hawaii works roughly 176.4 hours a month to cover Lahaina's median rent of $3,346.
Where is rent cheaper than Lahaina for a waiter or waitress?
Nearby Hawaii cities with lower median rent include Wailuku ($3,344/mo), Wailuku ($3,337/mo), Kapolei ($3,337/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.