County FMR · HUD FY2026

Hawaii County Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Hawaii County, HI - 67% above the US average.

$1,603
1-bedroom FMR
$2,076
2-bedroom FMR
-0.6%
YoY change
+67%
vs US avg

The verdict

Hawaii is the 1st cheapest of 5 counties in Hawaii by 2-bedroom FMR.

#1
cheapest of 5 in Hawaii (2BR)
-14%
vs the state average
$64,120
income to afford it (30% rule)
-0.6%
YoY, FY2025→2026

Registered Nurses spend the smallest share of income on rent here (14.1%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (62.3%); only 6 of 15 common occupations here can afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent without exceeding the 30% threshold.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Hawaii County, HI. Verify with HUD →

The Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Hawaii County, Hawaii is $1,603 per month in FY 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A 2-bedroom costs $2,076/mo and a studio is $1,592/mo. This is 67% higher than the national average of $959 and 14% below the Hawaii average of $1,859.

Rent decreased0.6% from FY 2025 ($1,612), roughly tracking inflation. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $64,120/year based on the 30% affordability rule.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Hawaii. Population: 202,163. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+3.0%, Census ACS). That's in line with Hawaii's statewide growth of +1.7% over the same period.

What these rents mean for Hawaii County

The Hawaii County FMR area applies to all ZIP codes inside the county boundary, and Hawaii's housing authorities use it as the baseline for Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher payment standards. See how FMR is calculated for the full 40th-percentile methodology and payment-standard rules.

Compared to the rest of the country, a 1-bedroom here is 67% above the US average of $959 and 14% lower than the Hawaii state average of $1,859. Year-over-year, the 1-bedroom FMR moved from$1,612 in FY 2025 to $1,603 in FY 2026 - a change of -0.6%, which tracks roughly with broader price trends.

At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $1,603, affording it under the 30%-of-income rule takes $64,120 per year (about $5,343/month) in household income, and a 2-bedroom at $2,076 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 202,163 and a county median household income of $77,215, the arithmetic here directly shapes which wage earners can rent without being cost-burdened.

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $1,786 · US avg: $893
$1,592/mo
↑ 1.1% YoY -11% vs state +78% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $1,859 · US avg: $959
$1,603/mo
↓ 0.6% YoY -14% vs state +67% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $2,433 · US avg: $1,175
$2,076/mo
↑ 0.0% YoY -15% vs state +77% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $3,157 · US avg: $1,525
$2,622/mo
↓ 3.0% YoY -17% vs state +72% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $3,779 · US avg: $1,756
$3,024/mo
↑ 0.0% YoY -20% vs state +72% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $1,575
$1,592
+$17 (+1.1%)
1 Bedroom $1,612
$1,603
$-9 (-0.6%)
2 Bedroom $2,075
$2,076
+$1 (+0.0%)
3 Bedroom $2,703
$2,622
$-81 (-3.0%)
4 Bedroom $3,023
$3,024
+$1 (+0.0%)

Affordability Snapshot

Based on the standard that rent should not exceed 30% of gross income:

Required annual income for 1 BR
$64,120
$5,343/month gross
Required annual income for 2 BR
$83,040
$6,920/month gross

Rent Burden Analysis

How much of household income goes to rent in Hawaii County. The 30% threshold indicates cost burden.

Studio
24.7%
Affordable
Need $63,680/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
24.9%
Affordable
Need $64,120/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
32.3%
Burdened
Need $83,040/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
40.7%
Burdened
Need $104,880/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
47%
Burdened
Need $120,960/yr for 30% rule
How we calculate this

Rent burden = (FMR × 12) ÷ county median household income. Required income = (FMR × 12) ÷ 0.3, the federal 30%-of-gross-income rule HUD uses to define cost burden. Median household income is from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey; FMR is from HUD's FY2026 release. See methodology.

Hawaii County 2-bedroom rent burden

0%100%National avg22%32.3%
Hawaii County 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $77,215 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View Hawaii rent burden →

Where Hawaii sits among every US county

2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties

$2,076 Top 3% higher than 97% of 3,145 counties

$600–$800: 23 counties (1%). Below this entry. $800–$1,000: 1,406 counties (45%). Below this entry. $1,000–$1,200: 723 counties (23%). Below this entry. $1,200–$1,400: 417 counties (13%). Below this entry. $1,400–$1,600: 181 counties (6%). Below this entry. $1,600–$1,800: 172 counties (5%). Below this entry. $1,800–$2,000: 108 counties (3%). Below this entry. $2,000–$2,200: 29 counties (1%). This entry sits in this band. $2,200–$2,400: 40 counties (1%). Above this entry. $2,400–$2,600: 13 counties (0%). Above this entry. $2,600–$2,800: 9 counties (0%). Above this entry. $2,800–$3,000: 15 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,000–$3,200: 3 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,200–$3,400: 1 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,400–$3,600: 1 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,600–$3,800: 3 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,800–$4,000: 0 counties (0%). Above this entry. $4,000–$4,200: 0 counties (0%). Above this entry. $4,200–$4,400: 1 counties (0%). Above this entry. This county $600 $4,400 every US county, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $0.2K-wide band; taller bars hold more counties. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Fair Market Rents · FY2026

How Hawaii compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other Hawaii counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Hawaii is highlighted. Nearby Hawaii counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Honolulu County ($2,016), Maui County ($2,000), Kalawao County ($1,899), Kauai County ($1,777), Hawaii County (this county) ($1,603).

Source U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) As of FY2026

Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?

How a 1-bedroom at $1,603/mo compares to Hawaii salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).

Occupation HI Salary Rent Burden Verdict
Registered Nurses $136,320 14.1% Affordable
Software Developers $119,880 16% Affordable
General & Operations Managers $105,160 18.3% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $89,390 21.5% Affordable
Electricians $83,200 23.1% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $67,820 28.4% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $60,890 31.6% Stretched
Elementary School Teachers $60,420 31.8% Stretched
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $59,320 32.4% Stretched
Pharmacy Technicians $45,380 42.4% Stretched
Customer Service Representatives $40,630 47.3% Stretched
Janitors & Cleaners $37,120 51.8% Unaffordable
Retail Salespersons $36,050 53.4% Unaffordable
Teaching Assistants $35,420 54.3% Unaffordable
Fast Food & Counter Workers $30,860 62.3% Unaffordable
Salaries: BLS OES (Hawaii) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

Rent Trends (2020–2026)

7-year Fair Market Rent history for Hawaii County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Hawaii (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 47.7% overall, from $1,085 to $1,603. The path there hasn't been smooth: year-over-year moves have swung by as much as 24.5% (FY 2023), a volatility pattern that makes single-year comparisons a poor guide to the underlying trend.

$1,000$1,200$1,400$1,600$1,800 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $1,603
Hawaii County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↓0.6% $1,592 $1,603 $2,076
FY 2025 ↑4.1% $1,575 $1,612 $2,075
FY 2024 ↑6.8% $1,458 $1,548 $2,010
FY 2023 ↑24.5% $1,281 $1,449 $1,901
FY 2022 ↑4.4% $1,017 $1,164 $1,531
FY 2021 ↑2.8% $969 $1,115 $1,469
FY 2020 $931 $1,085 $1,429
Total change (6yr): +47.7%
Annualized: +6.7%/yr
1 BR: $1,085 → $1,603

Part of the Hilo-Kailua, HI Micro Area

Hawaii County is a central county of the Hilo-Kailua, HI micropolitan statistical area.

Nearby Counties in Hawaii

Largest counties by population in Hawaii

Honolulu County
1 BR: $2,016/mo Pop: 1,010,100
Maui County
1 BR: $2,000/mo Pop: 164,765
Kauai County
1 BR: $1,777/mo Pop: 73,511
Kalawao County
1 BR: $1,899/mo Pop: 50
View all counties in Hawaii →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in Hawaii County? ▼
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Hawaii County is $1,603 per month. A 2-bedroom is $2,076 and a studio is $1,592.
How does Hawaii County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in Hawaii County is 67% above the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $1,603 compared to $959 nationally.
What income do I need to afford rent in Hawaii County? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $64,120 ($5,343/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Hawaii County.
Is rent going up or down in Hawaii County? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Hawaii County decreased by 0.6% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $1,612 to $1,603.
Which jobs can afford rent in Hawaii County? ▼
Based on Hawaii BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Registered Nurses, Software Developers, General and Operations Managers can afford a 1-bedroom at $1,603/mo. 6 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Hawaii County over time? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Hawaii County went from $1,085 in FY 2020 to $1,603 in FY 2026, a total change of +47.7% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Hawaii County? ▼
In Hawaii County, the FY 2026 FMR of $1,603/mo for a 1-bedroom sets the baseline that local housing authorities use for Section 8 payment standards.
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Hawaii County? ▼
For Hawaii County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($1,603/mo for a 1-bedroom in FY 2026).

What this means for renters

Treat Hawaii's FY2026 Fair Market Rent as HUD's affordability benchmark, not a market quote.

  • Budget to roughly 30% of income: the FY2026 1-bedroom FMR of $1,603 implies about $64,120/yr to rent without being cost-burdened. Run your numbers
  • Compare this county against nearby metros and states before signing a lease. Compare areas
  • See where it sits on the national rent map. View rankings

Fair Market Rent is HUD's 40th-percentile policy benchmark used to set Housing Choice Voucher payment standards. Actual asking rents in Hawaii can run higher or lower, and HUD updates FMRs once a year. This page is informational and not financial or relocation advice.

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and HUD Fair Market Rents. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.

All federal data sources used on this page
  • HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR) - county-level fair-market rent estimates by bedroom count. huduser.gov/datasets/fmr
  • HUD Income Limits - area median income for affordability calculations. huduser.gov/datasets/il
  • HUD Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy (CHAS) - rent burden and housing-cost distribution. huduser.gov/datasets/cp
  • U.S. Census Bureau ACS - county and metro housing characteristics + median rent. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
  • BLS Consumer Price Index, Rent of Primary Residence - rent inflation by metro. bls.gov/cpi
  • IRS Migration Data (SOI) - interstate migration aggregates affecting county demand. irs.gov/statistics/migration
  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics - state-level median wages by occupation, used for job affordability analysis. bls.gov/oes

Every figure on PlainRent is rendered directly from HUD's published Fair Market Rent records, no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of FY 2026.