The cheapest University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa hall place for 2026–27 is a triple room at $5,326 per person for the year, and a standard double costs $7,268. Hawaiʻi Pacific University (HPU) and Chaminade University of Honolulu set their own, higher prices, and Hawaiʻi law caps a rental deposit at one month’s rent. All figures are US dollars from each institution’s published 2026–27 rates, checked on 5 November 2026.
An earlier version of this page used a 2023 rate-increase notice for Mānoa. UH Housing’s current rate page supersedes it, and every Mānoa figure below comes from the current page. Halls cover only a fraction of demand, so most students end up renting privately, and I could not verify any Honolulu rent figure.
Cost at a glance: what to add up
Before you compare the prices on this page, check what each figure actually covers:
- Rent period: per week, month or semester, and per person or per room.
- What is included: utilities, internet, contents insurance and any meal plan.
- One-off costs: deposit, application or booking fee, and any first-month payment.
- Getting to campus: travel passes, or the extra cost of living further out.
- Currency: prices here are in the local currency. Convert them at your bank’s current rate and add the transfer fee. Rates change daily, so we do not publish rupee figures.
Anything we could not confirm from an official source is flagged on this page as “could not verify”, so read those notes before you rely on a figure.
UH Mānoa residence hall rates, 2026–27
| Hall and room type | 2026–27, per person |
|---|---|
| Hale Laulima, Hale Kahawai: triple, community bath | $5,326 |
| Hale Aloha Towers, Johnson, Hale Kahawai, Hale Laulima, Hale Ānuenue: double, community bath | $7,268 |
| Gateway House: two-bedroom, four occupants, shared private bath | $7,268 |
| Hale Wainani: two-bedroom apartment, four occupants | $7,922 |
| Gateway House: one-bedroom, two occupants, private bath | $8,689 |
| Frear Hall: two-bedroom, four occupants | $8,871 |
| Hale Wainani: one-bedroom apartment, two occupants | $10,057 |
| Hale Laulima, Hale Ānuenue: single, community bath | $10,489 |
| Frear Hall: four-bedroom, four occupants | $10,661 |
| Frear Hall: two-bedroom, two occupants | $13,041 |
| Frear Hall: one-bedroom, one occupant, private bath | $14,910 |
| Hale Wainani: one-bedroom family housing, two occupants | $19,815 |
UH states that all costs are for one occupant. The page lists no meal plan prices. Rent and meal plan charges post to your university account.
Applying for UH Mānoa housing
Housing is not guaranteed, so apply as early as the portal allows. UH’s first-year page says applications are ranked by criteria set by the UH Board of Regents, which it does not list, and it cites more than 20,000 students against about 3,100 beds. These are the Fall 2026 first-year dates, the latest published.
| Date (2026) | Step |
|---|---|
| 4 March, noon | Part 1 of the application opens |
| 1 May | Partial tuition deposit due |
| 4 May | On-time deadline for Part 1 |
| 26 May, 11:59 pm HST | Part 2 due or the application is cancelled |
| First week of June | Contract offers begin |
Fees are a $25 non-refundable application fee and a $400 reservation fee once you sign a contract. Applications after 4 May are processed only if space remains. Waitlisted applicants receive offers on a rolling basis, and UH warns that not everyone on the waitlist will get one.
Hawaiʻi Pacific University and Chaminade housing
HPU’s 2026–27 rates are quoted per semester and per academic year. Chaminade quotes per semester, and its housing agreement covers fall and spring.
| University and option | Per semester, 2026–27 |
|---|---|
| HPU Harbor Lofts (first-year): shared with three others | $5,674 |
| HPU Harbor Lofts: shared bedroom with one other | $7,997 |
| HPU Executive Centre: Executive Studio, shared with one other | $8,335 |
| HPU Executive Centre: Executive Deluxe, shared, in-unit washer and dryer | $9,308 |
| Chaminade Kieffer Hall: triple | $3,775 |
| Chaminade Kieffer Hall, Hale Lokelani, Hale Pohaku: double or standard | $4,970 |
| Chaminade Waialae Apartments: two-bedroom, double room | $6,155 |
| Chaminade Waialae Apartments: one-bedroom, double | $7,735 |
At HPU, Harbor Lofts residents must buy a meal plan, from $4,401 to $5,079 per semester. Executive Centre residents may opt in to a plan at $2,895 per semester. Chaminade says prices are subject to change without notice, and requires undergraduates in housing to be registered for at least 8 credit hours (6 for graduate students). It also does not house partners, spouses or children. Its page gives no deposit amount or deadlines.
Renting privately in Honolulu
I have no verified rent figures for Honolulu, so I have not ranked neighbourhoods or listed private blocks. These are the rules and warnings I could source.
- Deposit cap: the Hawaiʻi Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs says a deposit cannot exceed one month’s rent, and other deposits such as keys or pets may count towards that total.
- Return deadline: the balance must come back no later than 14 days after the rental agreement ends. A landlord who does not notify you of deductions in that time must return the full deposit.
- Deductions: allowed for unpaid rent, unreturned keys, cleaning to restore move-in condition and tenant damage, but not for normal wear and tear. Retained amounts need written reasons, an itemised list and evidence such as receipts.
- Disputes: you can file in Small Claims Court up to one year after the agreement ends.
- Scam signs (FTC): rent far below the local level, an owner who cannot meet or show the property, pressure to decide quickly, and requests for wire transfers, gift cards or cryptocurrency.
Photograph the room on move-in day and keep the written lease. The FTC advises visiting in person or sending someone you trust, because a video tour does not prove a listing is genuine. Report scams at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
What I could not verify
I found no 2027–28 UH Mānoa application dates, no UH meal plan prices, and no deposit or deadline information for Chaminade. I did not find Honolulu private rent figures from a reliable source. TheBus lists a youth pass from 1 July 2026, but it covers ages 6 to 17 and high school students up to 19, so I could not confirm a student fare for university students. I did not check the statute text itself, only the state’s consumer guidance.
Talk to us about your budget and city
Not sure which option suits you or your family? Send us your city, budget and room type, and we will point you to the right guide and the next steps to check. Students and parents are both welcome to ask.
Frequently asked questions
How much do UH Mānoa residence halls cost?
UH Mānoa halls cost $5,326 to $19,815 per person for 2026–27, depending on hall and room type. A standard double with a community bath is $7,268, and the highest figure is for family housing.
What is the rent in Honolulu?
I could not verify a current figure. Use the university rates above as a reference and ask any landlord for the lease before paying.
Is on-campus housing guaranteed at UH Mānoa?
No, UH Mānoa does not guarantee housing. Its first-year page says not everyone on the waitlist will receive an offer, and late applicants are assigned only after on-time applications.
How much can a Hawaiʻi landlord charge as a security deposit?
A landlord cannot charge more than one month’s rent as a deposit. The balance after lawful deductions is due within 14 days of the rental agreement ending.
Which Honolulu university has the cheapest housing?
On published 2026–27 rates, the UH Mānoa triple at $5,326 for the year is the lowest listed here. HPU and Chaminade quote per semester, so double their figures for a two-semester comparison, and check meal plans, which change the totals.
Comparing other West Coast options? See our guides to student accommodation in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle, or browse all US student accommodation guides.
Sources
- UH Mānoa Housing: academic year room rates, 2026–27
- UH Mānoa Housing: first-year application process, Fall 2026
- Hawaiʻi Pacific University: housing and meal rates, 2026–27
- Chaminade University: housing rates, 2026–27
- Chaminade University: apply for housing
- Hawaiʻi DCCA: security deposit guidance
- FTC: rental listing scams (updated 2026)
- TheBus: youth fares, effective 1 July 2026
All checked 5 November 2026.
