Here Are the Best Months to Rent in Honolulu

While prices fluctuate throughout the year, some months are better for negotiating and finding lower costs.

January 11, 2019

Rachel Ross Bradley,

Photo: Channey on Unsplash

If you’re looking for a new place to rent, the time of year matters. Miss by a month and you’ll pay the price.

At the end of 2018, the average rent in the U.S. was $1,419. But we’re so much more than average here on O‘ahu, aren’t we? According to Rent Café’s annual report, our average rent fluctuated slightly over the course of the year, ending at $1,771.

So when’s the best time to rent? Well, not in August—rents in Honolulu peaked at $1,849. And just a month later, the renting season was over, with a 3 percent drop to $1,791. Look for a new place in September or December if you want to find landlords who might be feeling generous or negotiable, or if you don’t want as much competition.

Across the country, a strong economy pushed rents up more than 3 percent. Las Vegas, Phoenix and Los Angeles saw rents climb 6 and 7 percent, and big cities in Florida were close behind. The most popular search terms for renters were “cheap” and “studio.”