Cost of Living in Kauai 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 Kauai County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Kauai County ranks #3,043 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 3%)
Sourced county brief
Kauai County median home value reaches 873,200 dollars
The median home value in Kauai County was estimated at $873,200, which is higher than the unweighted Hawaii county mean of $798,675. For renter-occupied units, the official Gross Rent as a Percentage of Household Income (GRAPI) was 31.0%. This figure, provided in ACS table B25071, is 1.7 percentage points higher than the state's unweighted county mean GRAPI of 29.3%. The median gross rent in the county was $1,870 per month, exceeding the unweighted Hawaii county mean of $1,730. Renter households had a reported median income of $70,359. For homeowners, the median selected monthly owner costs were $1,854, which is 20 dollars above the unweighted Hawaii county mean of $1,834. These statistics represent a snapshot from the American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for the 2020-2024 period. 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: Kauai County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 31.0% of renter household income in Kauai 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 $1,870 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,854. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $74,800 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. Kauai County's $1,870 median is 8.1% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Kauai County
Rent Burden
23.0%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$2,279
per month
Owner Cost Burden
22.8%
of gross income
The median home in Kauai County may be a stretch
Median home value is $873,200. Estimated monthly cost: $6,971 vs. your max of $2,279.
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
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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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