Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Decatur, AL?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 29.1% of gross income.

Decatur rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Alabama state estimate).

Decatur median rent
$1,082/mo
Bus Driver salary (Alabama)
$44,565/yr
Rent as % of income
29.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,714, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,114/mo in rent. Decatur's median rent of $1,082 leaves roughly $32/mo of headroom under that threshold. A bus driver works roughly 50.5 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 Alabama cities have lower median rent than Decatur, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Jacksonville, AL
$1,080/mo (29.1% of income)
Hoover, AL
$1,078/mo (29% of income)
Jacksonville, AL
$1,078/mo (29% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Decatur

View full rent data for Decatur, AL

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Decatur, AL?

Median rent in Decatur is $1,082 a month. A typical bus driver in Alabama earns about $44,565 a year, which makes that rent 29.1% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a bus driver afford in Decatur?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Alabama (~$44,565/yr) supports up to $1,114 a month in rent. Decatur's current median rent is $1,082/mo, which leaves a $32/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $21 an hour, a bus driver in Alabama works roughly 50.5 hours a month to cover Decatur's median rent of $1,082.

Where is rent cheaper than Decatur for a bus driver?

Nearby Alabama cities with lower median rent include Jacksonville ($1,080/mo), Hoover ($1,078/mo), Jacksonville ($1,078/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bus driver salary.

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