County FMR · HUD FY2026
Kauai County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Kauai County, HI - 85% above the US average.
- $1,777
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $2,332
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +9.4%
- YoY change
- +85%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Kauai is the 2nd cheapest of 5 counties in Hawaii by 2-bedroom FMR; rent here has climbed 9.4% since FY 2025, a modest shift relative to most counties.
- #2
- cheapest of 5 in Hawaii (2BR)
- -4%
- vs the state average
- $71,080
- income to afford it (30% rule)
- +9.4%
- YoY, FY2025→2026
Registered Nurses spend the smallest share of income on rent here (15.6%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (69.1%); only 5 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 Kauai County, HI. Verify with HUD →
The Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Kauai County, Hawaii is $1,777 per month in FY 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A 2-bedroom costs $2,332/mo and a studio is $1,766/mo. This is 85% higher than the national average of $959 and 4% below the Hawaii average of $1,859.
Rent increased9.4% from FY 2025 ($1,625), outpacing inflation. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $71,080/year based on the 30% affordability rule.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Hawaii. Population: 73,511. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+3.1%, Census ACS). That's in line with Hawaii's statewide growth of +1.7% over the same period.
What these rents mean for Kauai County
The Kauai 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 85% above the US average of $959 and 4% lower than the Hawaii state average of $1,859. Year-over-year, the 1-bedroom FMR moved from$1,625 in FY 2025 to $1,777 in FY 2026 - a change of +9.4%, which outpaces typical consumer inflation.
At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $1,777, affording it under the 30%-of-income rule takes $71,080 per year (about $5,923/month) in household income, and a 2-bedroom at $2,332 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 73,511 and a county median household income of $93,612, the arithmetic here directly shapes which wage earners can rent without being cost-burdened.
Fair Market Rents (2026)
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Bedrooms | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,597 | $1,766 | +$169 (+10.6%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $1,625 | $1,777 | +$152 (+9.4%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $2,135 | $2,332 | +$197 (+9.2%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $2,810 | $2,866 | +$56 (+2.0%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $3,324 | $3,179 | $-145 (-4.4%) |
Affordability Snapshot
Based on the standard that rent should not exceed 30% of gross income:
Rent Burden Analysis
How much of household income goes to rent in Kauai County. The 30% threshold indicates cost burden.
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.
Kauai County 2-bedroom rent burden
Where Kauai sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$2,332 Top 2% higher than 98% of 3,145 counties
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 Kauai compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other Hawaii counties
- Honolulu
Honolulu County
$2,016 1BR FMR / mo
- Maui
Maui County
$2,000 1BR FMR / mo
- Kalawao
Kalawao County
$1,899 1BR FMR / mo
- Kauai
Kauai County
$1,777 1BR FMR / mo
- Hawaii
Hawaii County
$1,603 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Kauai 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 (this county) ($1,777), Hawaii County ($1,603).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
How a 1-bedroom at $1,777/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 | 15.6% | Affordable |
| Software Developers | $119,880 | 17.8% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $105,160 | 20.3% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $89,390 | 23.9% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $83,200 | 25.6% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $67,820 | 31.4% | Stretched |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $60,890 | 35% | Stretched |
| Elementary School Teachers | $60,420 | 35.3% | Stretched |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $59,320 | 35.9% | Stretched |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $45,380 | 47% | Stretched |
| Customer Service Representatives | $40,630 | 52.5% | Unaffordable |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $37,120 | 57.4% | Unaffordable |
| Retail Salespersons | $36,050 | 59.2% | Unaffordable |
| Teaching Assistants | $35,420 | 60.2% | Unaffordable |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $30,860 | 69.1% | Unaffordable |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Kauai County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Kauai (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 17.0% overall, from $1,519 to $1,777. The increases have been fairly steady year to year, with no single jump exceeding 10.6% (FY 2024).
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑9.4% | $1,766 | $1,777 | $2,332 |
| FY 2025 ↓10.0% | $1,597 | $1,625 | $2,135 |
| FY 2024 ↑10.6% | $1,608 | $1,805 | $2,372 |
| FY 2023 ↑2.6% | $1,436 | $1,632 | $2,148 |
| FY 2022 ↑4.7% | $1,327 | $1,590 | $1,997 |
| FY 2021 ↑0.0% | $1,255 | $1,519 | $1,902 |
| FY 2020 | $1,226 | $1,519 | $1,881 |
Part of the Kapaa, HI Micro Area
Kauai County is a central county of the Kapaa, HI micropolitan statistical area.
Nearby Counties in Hawaii
Largest counties by population in Hawaii
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Kauai County? ▼
How does Kauai County rent compare to the national average? ▼
What income do I need to afford rent in Kauai County? ▼
Is rent going up or down in Kauai County? ▼
Which jobs can afford rent in Kauai County? ▼
How much has rent changed in Kauai County over time? ▼
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Kauai County? ▼
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Kauai County? ▼
What this means for renters
Treat Kauai'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 $1,777 implies about $71,080/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 Kauai 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.
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.