Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Montgomery, AL?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 36.2% of gross income.

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

Montgomery median rent
$1,343/mo
Bus Driver salary (Alabama)
$44,565/yr
Rent as % of income
36.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,714, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,114/mo in rent. Montgomery's median rent of $1,343 exceeds that threshold by $229/mo, putting a bus driver salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bus driver works roughly 62.7 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 Montgomery, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Fultondale, AL
$1,342/mo (36.1% of income)
Bessemer, AL
$1,341/mo (36.1% of income)
Huntsville, AL
$1,338/mo (36% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Montgomery

View full rent data for Montgomery, AL

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Montgomery, AL?

Median rent in Montgomery is $1,343 a month. A typical bus driver in Alabama earns about $44,565 a year, which makes that rent 36.2% 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 Montgomery?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Alabama (~$44,565/yr) supports up to $1,114 a month in rent. Montgomery's current median rent is $1,343/mo, which is $229/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $21 an hour, a bus driver in Alabama works roughly 62.7 hours a month to cover Montgomery's median rent of $1,343.

Where is rent cheaper than Montgomery for a bus driver?

Nearby Alabama cities with lower median rent include Fultondale ($1,342/mo), Bessemer ($1,341/mo), Huntsville ($1,338/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 Montgomery, AL. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.