Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Wasilla, AK?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 38.1% of gross income.

Wasilla rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Alaska state estimate).

Wasilla median rent
$1,843/mo
Bus Driver salary (Alaska)
$58,038/yr
Rent as % of income
38.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,837, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,451/mo in rent. Wasilla's median rent of $1,843 exceeds that threshold by $392/mo, putting a bus driver salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bus driver works roughly 66.1 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 Wasilla, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Fairbanks, AK
$1,837/mo (38% of income)
Anchorage, AK
$1,837/mo (38% of income)
Fairbanks, AK
$1,835/mo (37.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Wasilla

View full rent data for Wasilla, AK →

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Wasilla, AK?

Median rent in Wasilla is $1,843 a month. A typical bus driver in Alaska earns about $58,038 a year, which makes that rent 38.1% 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 Wasilla?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Alaska (~$58,038/yr) supports up to $1,451 a month in rent. Wasilla's current median rent is $1,843/mo, which is $392/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a bus driver in Alaska works roughly 66.1 hours a month to cover Wasilla's median rent of $1,843.

Where is rent cheaper than Wasilla for a bus driver?

Nearby Alaska cities with lower median rent include Fairbanks ($1,837/mo), Anchorage ($1,837/mo), Fairbanks ($1,835/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 Wasilla, AK. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.