Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Del Mar, CA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 154.4% of gross income.

Del Mar rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (California state estimate).

Del Mar median rent
$7,867/mo
Bus Driver salary (California)
$61,148/yr
Rent as % of income
154.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,096, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,529/mo in rent. Del Mar's median rent of $7,867 exceeds that threshold by $6,338/mo, putting a bus driver salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bus driver works roughly 267.6 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 California cities have lower median rent than Del Mar, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Los Altos, CA
$7,513/mo (147.4% of income)
San Marino, CA
$7,489/mo (147% of income)
Topanga, CA
$7,150/mo (140.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Del Mar

View full rent data for Del Mar, CA

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Del Mar, CA?

Median rent in Del Mar is $7,867 a month. A typical bus driver in California earns about $61,148 a year, which makes that rent 154.4% 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 Del Mar?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in California (~$61,148/yr) supports up to $1,529 a month in rent. Del Mar's current median rent is $7,867/mo, which is $6,338/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $29 an hour, a bus driver in California works roughly 267.6 hours a month to cover Del Mar's median rent of $7,867.

Where is rent cheaper than Del Mar for a bus driver?

Nearby California cities with lower median rent include Los Altos ($7,513/mo), San Marino ($7,489/mo), Topanga ($7,150/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bus driver salary.

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