HUD Fair Market Rent · FY 2027 · Effective Oct 1, 2026 to Sep 30, 2027
Fair Market Rent in Kauai County, Hawaii (FY 2027)
A two-bedroom in Kauai County carries a FY 2027 Fair Market Rent of $2,105 a month, effective October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027. Everything Section 8 pays in Kauai keys off that figure.
Two-bedroom FMR
$2,105
-9.7% from FY 2026
Payment standard
$1,895–$2,316
90% to 110% of the FMR, two-bedroom
Income to afford
$84,200
a year, with rent at 30% of income
Rank in Hawaii
4th of 5
by two-bedroom FMR, highest first
FY 2027 Fair Market Rents
Payment standard is the 90% to 110% band a housing authority can set. Income needed puts rent at 30% of gross income, and the hourly wage assumes a 40-hour week.
| Bedrooms | FMR | Payment standard | Income needed | Hourly wage | vs FY 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,599 | $1,439–$1,759 | $63,960 | $30.75/hr | -9.5% |
| 1 bedroom | $1,609 | $1,448–$1,770 | $64,360 | $30.94/hr | -9.5% |
| 2 bedroom | $2,105 | $1,895–$2,316 | $84,200 | $40.48/hr | -9.7% |
| 3 bedroom | $2,588 | $2,329–$2,847 | $103,520 | $49.77/hr | -9.7% |
| 4 bedroom | $2,952 | $2,657–$3,247 | $118,080 | $56.77/hr | -7.1% |
Five to eight 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 | $3,395 | $3,056–$3,735 |
| 6 bedroom Estimate | $3,838 | $3,454–$4,222 |
| 7 bedroom Estimate | $4,280 | $3,852–$4,708 |
| 8 bedroom Estimate | $4,723 | $4,251–$5,195 |
Source: HUD Office of Policy Development and Research, FY 2027 Fair Market Rents. Rents include utilities. huduser.gov
Market check
HUD's number is one input. What does a two-bedroom in Kauai actually rent for?
Search any address in Kauai for a rent estimate built from nearby comps, with the HUD figure right next to it.
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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 Kauai somewhere between $1,895 and $2,316. 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.
$2,105 a month is affordable, by HUD's 30% rule, on an income of roughly $84,200 a year. Put another way, $40 an hour full time.
Worked example for a two-bedroom renting at the payment standard. The tenant pays 30% of monthly income and the voucher covers the rest.
| Monthly household income | Tenant pays (30%) | Voucher pays at 90%$1,895 | Voucher pays at 100%$2,105 | Voucher pays at 110%$2,316 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $2,500 | $750 | $1,145 | $1,355 | $1,566 |
| $4,000 | $1,200 | $695 | $905 | $1,116 |
Rate history
The two-bedroom rate went down 10% from FY 2026 ($2,332) to FY 2027 ($2,105). Since FY 2020 it's up 12% in total, about 1.6% a year. The Hawaii median moved down 7% over the same year.
| Fiscal year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR | 3 BR | 4 BR | 2BR change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2020 | $1,226 | $1,519 | $1,881 | $2,595 | $3,212 | — |
| FY 2021 | $1,255 | $1,519 | $1,902 | $2,621 | $3,274 | +1.1% |
| FY 2022 | $1,327 | $1,590 | $1,997 | $2,770 | $3,418 | +5.0% |
| FY 2023 | $1,436 | $1,632 | $2,148 | $2,883 | $3,509 | +7.6% |
| FY 2024 | $1,608 | $1,805 | $2,372 | $3,122 | $3,693 | +10.4% |
| FY 2025 | $1,597 | $1,625 | $2,135 | $2,810 | $3,324 | -10.0% |
| FY 2026 | $1,766 | $1,777 | $2,332 | $2,866 | $3,179 | +9.2% |
| FY 2027In effect | $1,599 | $1,609 | $2,105 | $2,588 | $2,952 | -9.7% |
About this rate
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 2027 that's October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027. In Kauai, that runs from $1,599 for a studio up to $2,952 for four bedrooms, all five rates in the table above.
Because Kauai sits outside any HUD metro area, its rate is a county-wide figure built from local rents. One number covers every address in the county, Anahola included.
Among Hawaii's 5 counties, Kauai ranks 4th for two-bedroom FMR. That's about 10% below the state median of $2,326 and about 98% above the national median county at $1,063. About 73,731 people live here, 4th in the state.
Rates by ZIP code
Zoom in and the picture changes. HUD's Small Area FMRs put a two-bedroom at $2,100 in 96705 (Eleele) and $3,160 in 96722 (Princeville), with the 17 ZIP codes in between. Housing authorities in HUD-designated metros use those ZIP rates instead of the county rate. Everywhere else the ZIP numbers show where rents actually sit, and the county rate stays the official standard.
| ZIP | City | 2BR rate | vs county |
|---|---|---|---|
| 96703 | Anahola | $2,310 | +9.7% |
| 96705 | Eleele | $2,100 | -0.2% |
| 96714 | Hanalei | $2,970 | +41.1% |
| 96715 | Hanamaulu | $2,110 | +0.2% |
| 96716 | Hanapepe | $2,250 | +6.9% |
| 96722 | Princeville | $3,160 | +50.1% |
| 96741 | Kalaheo | $2,100 | -0.2% |
| 96746 | Kapaa | $2,260 | +7.4% |
| 96747 | Kaumakani | $2,100 | -0.2% |
| 96751 | Kealia | $2,260 | +7.4% |
| 96752 | Kekaha | $2,490 | +18.3% |
| 96754 | Kilauea | $2,400 | +14.0% |
| 96756 | Koloa | $2,100 | -0.2% |
| 96765 | Lawai | $2,290 | +8.8% |
| 96766 | Lihue | $2,270 | +7.8% |
| 96769 | Makaweli | $2,100 | -0.2% |
| 96796 | Waimea | $2,100 | -0.2% |
Nearby counties
Two-bedroom FMR, with how each compares to Kauai.
Questions people ask
$2,105 a month for FY 2027, which runs October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027. The other rates are $1,599 for a studio, $1,609 for one bedroom, $2,588 for three and $2,952 for four.
Tools for this county
Fair Market Rent lookup
Any ZIP code's Small Area FMR by bedroom count
Section 8 rent calculator
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
The income a household needs for a given rent
What does a rental in Kauai actually go for?
HUD's number is one input. Search any address in Kauai for a rent estimate built from nearby comps. Free to start, no card.
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