Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Waipahu, HI?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 88.1% of gross income.
Waipahu rent: July 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 Waipahu, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:
Compare with full rent data for Waipahu
View full rent data for Waipahu, HI →Frequently asked questions
Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Waipahu, HI?
Median rent in Waipahu is $2,897 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Hawaii earns about $39,452 a year, which makes that rent 88.1% 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 Waipahu?
Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Hawaii (~$39,452/yr) supports up to $986 a month in rent. Waipahu's current median rent is $2,897/mo, which is $1,911/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in Waipahu?
At an hourly equivalent of about $19 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Hawaii works roughly 152.7 hours a month to cover Waipahu's median rent of $2,897.
Where is rent cheaper than Waipahu for a waiter or waitress?
Nearby Hawaii cities with lower median rent include Kaneohe ($2,895/mo), Waialua ($2,893/mo), Kailua Kona ($2,877/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.