Renting in Hawaii
Renting in Hawaii runs genuinely, substantially expensive on a real, disclosed statewide basis -- roughly $2,675-$3,000/month depending on source, with Hawaii ranking #1 nationally for highest state rent by one measure -- with real, substantial island and neighborhood variation this pass's supplemental research found directly rather than inferred, from roughly $1,300/month in Hilo up to roughly $2,500/month in Kailua.
Exploring the idea of moving?
We can connect you with a local real estate professional who knows the area -- no pressure, just a starting point.
Learn moreHawaii's statewide average rent runs genuinely among the nation's highest, with a real cross-source spread
This pass's supplemental research (a light, dated WebSearch beyond hawaii.js's own housing figures, which cover home values only) found a real, disclosed statewide rent spread: a statewide median asking rent of approximately $2,675/month (Q1 2026, one source), a statewide average fair-market rent of approximately $2,816/month (2026, ranking Hawaii #1 nationally for highest state rent), and a separate Zillow statewide rent-tracker figure of approximately $3,000/month -- consistent with Hawaii rent running roughly 60% above the national average by one measure. A statewide average one-bedroom rent ran approximately $1,852 as of August 12, 2026. This record discloses that spread honestly rather than picking one number, and recommends confirming your specific target island and neighborhood's current listed rent directly.
Real, substantial variation by island and neighborhood -- Kailua runs far above Hilo
This pass's research found real, substantial island-to-island and neighborhood-to-neighborhood rent variation: roughly $1,300/month in Hilo (Big Island, wetter, less touristy east side) up to roughly $2,500/month in Kailua (Oahu). Oahu-wide averages ran approximately $2,734/month (RentCafe, June 2026, up 6.22% year-over-year), while Honolulu specifically ran lower at approximately $2,151/month by the same source (August 2026, up 4.57% year-over-year) -- a real, disclosed sub-figure spread this record does not attempt to fully reconcile, most likely reflecting different unit-mix or neighborhood coverage between those two measures rather than an error. Confirm current local rent directly for any specific target community.
Hawaii's General Excise Tax applies to rental income -- and landlords commonly pass it through
Hawaii's General Excise Tax (GET) is real, current, and applies to rental income landlords receive -- a genuinely distinctive Hawaii fact renters elsewhere in the country don't encounter. Landlords are legally permitted to pass the GET through to tenants, and this record discloses directly that a lease may show it as a separate line item; the same maximum authorized pass-on/gross-up mechanism disclosed in this dataset's sales-tax topic (up to 4.712% on receipts) applies to rent the same way it applies to retail purchases. Ask directly whether a prospective lease's quoted rent already includes GET pass-through or adds it separately.
Ask about lava-hazard, tsunami, and wildfire-recovery status before you sign
Because Hawaii carries real, genuinely distinctive hazards -- Kilauea's ongoing eruptive activity on the Big Island, statewide tsunami risk, and (in Maui's Lahaina area specifically) a still-unfolding wildfire-recovery story -- renters should ask a prospective landlord directly about a property's specific hazard-zone status, particularly on the Big Island or in any coastal or Lahaina-area rental. See the flood-hurricane-risk topic for the fuller statewide hazard picture.
Key takeaways
- Hawaii's statewide average rent runs roughly $2,675-$3,000/month depending on source, with Hawaii ranking #1 nationally for highest state rent by one measure.
- Rent varies substantially by island and neighborhood -- roughly $1,300/month in Hilo up to roughly $2,500/month in Kailua -- confirm current local rent directly.
- Hawaii's General Excise Tax applies to rental income, and landlords may legally pass it through to tenants, sometimes as a separate lease line item.
- Ask a prospective landlord directly about lava-hazard, tsunami, or (for Lahaina-area Maui properties) wildfire-recovery status before signing.
Want to know what your budget actually buys here?
Tell us a bit about what you're looking for and we'll connect you with someone local who can walk you through real numbers.
Get local guidanceRead the full Hawaii overview for the complete picture, or explore individual cities and towns we've researched.
Planning a move?
Tell us what you're looking for and we'll connect you with a local expert who can help you make it happen.
Talk to a local expert