Cost of Living in Honolulu County, Hawaii
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Honolulu County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Honolulu County ranks #3,102 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 1%)
Sourced county brief
Honolulu County median gross rent exceeds two thousand dollars monthly
The median gross rent in Honolulu County was estimated at $2,083 per month, a figure that is higher than the Hawaii unweighted county mean of $1,730. According to ACS table B25071, the official Gross Rent as a Percentage of Household Income (GRAPI) for the county was 33.7%. This canonical affordability percentage is 4.4 percentage points above the unweighted Hawaii county mean GRAPI of 29.3%. Median renter-household income in the county was reported at $74,033. For those owning their homes, the median selected monthly owner costs were $2,253, exceeding the state unweighted county mean of $1,834. The median home value was recorded at $897,500, which is above the unweighted Hawaii county mean of $798,675. This data provides a statistical snapshot of housing costs based on the 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year Estimates. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Honolulu County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 33.7% of renter household income in Honolulu County, which is between the 30% and 50% rent-burden benchmarks. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $2,083 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $2,253. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $83,320 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The Hawaii unweighted mean of county median rents is $1,730 per month. Honolulu County's $2,083 median is 20.4% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Honolulu County
Rent Burden
23.5%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$2,478
per month
Owner Cost Burden
25.5%
of gross income
The median home in Honolulu County may be a stretch
Median home value is $897,500. Estimated monthly cost: $7,165 vs. your max of $2,478.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost of living in Honolulu County, Hawaii?
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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