HUD Fair Market Rent · FY 2026 · effective Oct 1, 2025 to Sep 30, 2026
Fair Market Rent in Kauai County, Hawaii (FY 2026)
A two-bedroom in Kauai County carries a FY 2026 Fair Market Rent of $2,332 a month, effective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026. Everything Section 8 pays in Kauai keys off that figure.
2 bedroom FMR
$2,332
FY 2026, utilities included
Payment standard range
$2,099 to $2,565
90% to 110% of FMR
Income to afford 2BR
$93,280
per year, at 30% of income
Rank in Hawaii
4th of 5
by 2BR FMR
HUD has already published FY 2027. On October 1, 2026 the two-bedroom rate in Kauai moves to $2,105. That's down 10%. The full FY 2027 table is in the history section below.
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.
FY 2026 Fair Market Rents
| Bedrooms | FMR | Payment standard | Income needed | Hourly wage | vs FY 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,766 | $1,589 to $1,943 | $70,640 | $33.96/hr | +10.6% |
| 1 bedroom | $1,777 | $1,599 to $1,955 | $71,080 | $34.17/hr | +9.4% |
| 2 bedroom | $2,332 | $2,099 to $2,565 | $93,280 | $44.85/hr | +9.2% |
| 3 bedroom | $2,866 | $2,579 to $3,153 | $114,640 | $55.12/hr | +2.0% |
| 4 bedroom | $3,179 | $2,861 to $3,497 | $127,160 | $61.13/hr | -4.4% |
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 | $3,656 | $3,290 to $4,022 |
| 6 bedroom Estimate | $4,133 | $3,720 to $4,546 |
| 7 bedroom Estimate | $4,610 | $4,149 to $5,071 |
| 8 bedroom Estimate | $5,086 | $4,577 to $5,595 |
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 Kauai, that runs from $1,766 for a studio up to $3,179 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 6% below the state median of $2,492 and about 129% above the national median county at $1,018. About 73,511 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 $1,930 in 96747 (Kaumakani) and $3,500 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 | $2,010 | -13.8% |
| 96705 | Eleele | $2,110 | -9.5% |
| 96714 | Hanalei | $3,290 | +41.1% |
| 96715 | Hanamaulu | $2,330 | -0.1% |
| 96716 | Hanapepe | $2,180 | -6.5% |
| 96722 | Princeville | $3,500 | +50.1% |
| 96741 | Kalaheo | $2,200 | -5.7% |
| 96746 | Kapaa | $2,510 | +7.6% |
| 96747 | Kaumakani | $1,930 | -17.2% |
| 96751 | Kealia | $2,510 | +7.6% |
| 96752 | Kekaha | $2,760 | +18.4% |
| 96754 | Kilauea | $2,660 | +14.1% |
| 96756 | Koloa | $2,070 | -11.2% |
| 96765 | Lawai | $2,540 | +8.9% |
| 96766 | Lihue | $2,460 | +5.5% |
| 96769 | Makaweli | $1,930 | -17.2% |
| 96796 | Waimea | $2,020 | -13.4% |
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 $2,099 and $2,565. 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.
$2,332 a month is affordable, by HUD's 30% rule, on an income of roughly $93,280 a year. Put another way, $45 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% ($2,099) | HAP at 100% ($2,332) | HAP at 110% ($2,565) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $2,500 | $750 | $1,349 | $1,582 | $1,815 |
| $4,000 | $1,200 | $899 | $1,132 | $1,365 |
Rate history
The two-bedroom rate went up 9% from FY 2025 ($2,135) to FY 2026 ($2,332). Since FY 2020 it's up 24% in total, about 3.6% 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 | $1,226 | $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 2027 | $1,599 | $1,609 | $2,105 | $2,588 | $2,952 | -9.7% |
Nearby counties
Questions people ask
$2,332 a month for FY 2026, which runs October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026. The other rates are $1,766 for a studio, $1,777 for one bedroom, $2,866 for three and $3,179 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 Kauai actually go for?
HUD's number is one input. Search any address in Kauai for a rent estimate built from nearby comps. 3 free searches, no card.
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