Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Fort Smith, AR?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 29.6% of gross income.
Fort Smith rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Arkansas state estimate).
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 Arkansas cities have lower median rent than Fort Smith, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:
Compare with full rent data for Fort Smith
View full rent data for Fort Smith, AR →Frequently asked questions
Can a bus driver afford rent in Fort Smith, AR?
Median rent in Fort Smith is $1,060 a month. A typical bus driver in Arkansas earns about $43,011 a year, which makes that rent 29.6% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a bus driver afford in Fort Smith?
Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Arkansas (~$43,011/yr) supports up to $1,075 a month in rent. Fort Smith's current median rent is $1,060/mo, which leaves a $15/mo buffer.
How many hours does a bus driver work to cover rent in Fort Smith?
At an hourly equivalent of about $21 an hour, a bus driver in Arkansas works roughly 51.3 hours a month to cover Fort Smith's median rent of $1,060.
Where is rent cheaper than Fort Smith for a bus driver?
Nearby Arkansas cities with lower median rent include Bentonville ($1,059/mo), North Little Rock ($1,055/mo), Hot Springs ($1,054/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bus driver salary.