Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in North Pole, AK?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 37.3% of gross income.

North Pole rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Alaska state estimate).

North Pole median rent
$1,802/mo
Bus Driver salary (Alaska)
$58,038/yr
Rent as % of income
37.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,837, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,451/mo in rent. North Pole's median rent of $1,802 exceeds that threshold by $351/mo, putting a bus driver salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bus driver works roughly 64.6 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a bus driver salary

Transit bus driver pay sits near the US median household income, with municipal and unionized routes often paying more. At the national-average bus driver salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,296 a month in rent.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Alaska cities have lower median rent than North Pole, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Fairbanks, AK
$1,796/mo (37.1% of income)
Fairbanks, AK
$1,794/mo (37.1% of income)
Fairbanks, AK
$1,790/mo (37% of income)

Compare with full rent data for North Pole

View full rent data for North Pole, AK

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in North Pole, AK?

Median rent in North Pole is $1,802 a month. A typical bus driver in Alaska earns about $58,038 a year, which makes that rent 37.3% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a bus driver afford in North Pole?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Alaska (~$58,038/yr) supports up to $1,451 a month in rent. North Pole's current median rent is $1,802/mo, which is $351/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a bus driver work to cover rent in North Pole?

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a bus driver in Alaska works roughly 64.6 hours a month to cover North Pole's median rent of $1,802.

Where is rent cheaper than North Pole for a bus driver?

Nearby Alaska cities with lower median rent include Fairbanks ($1,796/mo), Fairbanks ($1,794/mo), Fairbanks ($1,790/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bus driver salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived Alaska state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for North Pole, AK. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.