Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Phenix City, AL?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 37.5% of gross income.

Phenix City rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Alabama state estimate).

Phenix City median rent
$1,392/mo
Bus Driver salary (Alabama)
$44,565/yr
Rent as % of income
37.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,714, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,114/mo in rent. Phenix City's median rent of $1,392 exceeds that threshold by $278/mo, putting a bus driver salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bus driver works roughly 65 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 Phenix City, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Millbrook, AL
$1,390/mo (37.4% of income)
Grayson Valley, AL
$1,388/mo (37.4% of income)
Gulf Shores, AL
$1,387/mo (37.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Phenix City

View full rent data for Phenix City, AL

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Phenix City, AL?

Median rent in Phenix City is $1,392 a month. A typical bus driver in Alabama earns about $44,565 a year, which makes that rent 37.5% 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 Phenix City?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Alabama (~$44,565/yr) supports up to $1,114 a month in rent. Phenix City's current median rent is $1,392/mo, which is $278/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $21 an hour, a bus driver in Alabama works roughly 65 hours a month to cover Phenix City's median rent of $1,392.

Where is rent cheaper than Phenix City for a bus driver?

Nearby Alabama cities with lower median rent include Millbrook ($1,390/mo), Grayson Valley ($1,388/mo), Gulf Shores ($1,387/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 Phenix City, AL. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.