A median studio renter in Honolulu would have to make $23/hr to afford the rent. Here's the math: The median Honolulu studio rent is $1046, to which add a very modest (perhaps unrealistically so) $150 for utilities (gas, electric, internet, phone, water, etc.). That makes $1196. Using HUD's formula of a maximum of 30% of gross income for housing (rent and utilities), that makes the gross monthly income $3987. On annualized basis that's $47,844 which on a 40 hour work week at 52 weeks per year works out to $23 an hour.