Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 112.7% of gross income.
Carmel-by-the-Sea rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (California 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 California cities have lower median rent than Carmel-by-the-Sea, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:
Compare with full rent data for Carmel-by-the-Sea
View full rent data for Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA →Frequently asked questions
Can a bus driver afford rent in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA?
Median rent in Carmel-by-the-Sea is $5,742 a month. A typical bus driver in California earns about $61,148 a year, which makes that rent 112.7% 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 Carmel-by-the-Sea?
Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in California (~$61,148/yr) supports up to $1,529 a month in rent. Carmel-by-the-Sea's current median rent is $5,742/mo, which is $4,213/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a bus driver work to cover rent in Carmel-by-the-Sea?
At an hourly equivalent of about $29 an hour, a bus driver in California works roughly 195.3 hours a month to cover Carmel-by-the-Sea's median rent of $5,742.
Where is rent cheaper than Carmel-by-the-Sea for a bus driver?
Nearby California cities with lower median rent include Los Altos ($5,734/mo), Saratoga ($5,728/mo), Saratoga ($5,723/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bus driver salary.