HUD Fair Market Rent · FY 2026 · effective Oct 1, 2025 to Sep 30, 2026
Fair Market Rent in Kalawao County, Hawaii (FY 2026)
$2,492 a month. That's HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom in Kalawao County, and it's the baseline every voucher in Kalawao is measured against.
2 bedroom FMR
$2,492
FY 2026, utilities included
Payment standard range
$2,243 to $2,741
90% to 110% of FMR
Income to afford 2BR
$99,680
per year, at 30% of income
Rank in Hawaii
3rd of 5
by 2BR FMR
HUD has already published FY 2027. On October 1, 2026 the two-bedroom rate in Kalawao moves to $2,326. That's down 7%. The full FY 2027 table is in the history section below.
HUD's number is one input. What does a two-bedroom in Kalawao actually rent for?
Search any address in Kalawao for a rent estimate built from nearby comps, with the HUD figure right next to it.
FY 2026 Fair Market Rents
| Bedrooms | FMR | Payment standard | Income needed | Hourly wage | vs FY 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,801 | $1,621 to $1,981 | $72,040 | $34.63/hr | +34.5% |
| 1 bedroom | $1,899 | $1,709 to $2,089 | $75,960 | $36.52/hr | +38.6% |
| 2 bedroom | $2,492 | $2,243 to $2,741 | $99,680 | $47.92/hr | +38.7% |
| 3 bedroom | $3,227 | $2,904 to $3,550 | $129,080 | $62.06/hr | +38.8% |
| 4 bedroom | $4,024 | $3,622 to $4,426 | $160,960 | $77.38/hr | +52.3% |
5 to 8 bedrooms (PropMetrics estimates)
HUD stops at four bedrooms. These add 15% of the four-bedroom rent per extra bedroom. It's our estimate, not a HUD number.
| Bedrooms | Estimated FMR | Payment standard |
|---|---|---|
| 5 bedroom Estimate | $4,628 | $4,165 to $5,091 |
| 6 bedroom Estimate | $5,231 | $4,708 to $5,754 |
| 7 bedroom Estimate | $5,835 | $5,252 to $6,419 |
| 8 bedroom Estimate | $6,438 | $5,794 to $7,082 |
Source: HUD Office of Policy Development and Research, FY 2026 Fair Market Rents. Rents include utilities. huduser.gov
Fair Market Rent is HUD's estimate of what a modest, decent unit rents for in an area, utilities included. It's set once a year and runs October to September. For FY 2026 that's October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026. In Kalawao, that runs from $1,801 for a studio up to $4,024 for four bedrooms, all five rates in the table above.
Kalawao is its own HUD metro area (Kalawao County, HI), so the rate here is set from rents inside the county rather than a wider region.
Among Hawaii's 5 counties, Kalawao ranks 3rd for two-bedroom FMR. That's within a couple percent of the state median of $2,492 and about 145% above the national median county at $1,018. About 50 people live here, 5th in the state.
What a voucher pays here
The voucher doesn't pay the FMR itself. It pays the payment standard. Housing authorities set it anywhere from 90% to 110% of FMR, which puts a two-bedroom standard in Kalawao somewhere between $2,243 and $2,741. The tenant pays roughly 30% of their income, the voucher covers the rest up to the standard, and the PHA won't approve a rent above what comparable unassisted units get.
$2,492 a month is affordable, by HUD's 30% rule, on an income of roughly $99,680 a year. Put another way, $48 an hour full time.
Worked example for a two-bedroom, assuming the rent equals the payment standard. Tenant pays 30% of monthly income, HUD's housing assistance payment covers the rest.
| Monthly household income | Tenant pays (30%) | HAP at 90% ($2,243) | HAP at 100% ($2,492) | HAP at 110% ($2,741) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $2,500 | $750 | $1,493 | $1,742 | $1,991 |
| $4,000 | $1,200 | $1,043 | $1,292 | $1,541 |
Rate history
The two-bedroom rate went up 39% from FY 2025 ($1,797) to FY 2026 ($2,492). Since FY 2020 it's up 42% in total, about 6.0% a year. The Hawaii median moved up 17% over the same year.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR | 3 BR | 4 BR | 2BR change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2020 | $1,275 | $1,394 | $1,759 | $2,496 | $2,846 | — |
| FY 2021 | $1,321 | $1,408 | $1,772 | $2,461 | $2,724 | +0.7% |
| FY 2022 | $1,189 | $1,303 | $1,714 | $2,247 | $2,452 | -3.3% |
| FY 2023 | $1,148 | $1,304 | $1,717 | $2,224 | $2,450 | +0.2% |
| FY 2024 | $1,208 | $1,296 | $1,703 | $2,197 | $2,485 | -0.8% |
| FY 2025 | $1,339 | $1,370 | $1,797 | $2,325 | $2,643 | +5.5% |
| FY 2026 | $1,801 | $1,899 | $2,492 | $3,227 | $4,024 | +38.7% |
| FY 2027 | $1,621 | $1,778 | $2,326 | $2,932 | $3,630 | -6.7% |
Questions people ask
$2,492 a month for FY 2026, which runs October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026. The other rates are $1,801 for a studio, $1,899 for one bedroom, $3,227 for three and $4,024 for four.
Tools for this county
Fair Market Rent lookup
Look up any ZIP code's Small Area FMR by bedroom count.
Section 8 rent calculator
Work out the payment standard and tenant share for a specific rent.
What is Fair Market Rent?
How HUD calculates FMR and what it means for landlords.
Rent affordability calculator
See what income a household needs for a given rent.
What does a rental in Kalawao actually go for?
HUD's number is one input. Search any address in Kalawao for a rent estimate built from nearby comps. 3 free searches, no card.
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