Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Redwood City, CA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 84.4% of gross income.

Redwood City rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (California state estimate).

Redwood City median rent
$4,301/mo
Bus Driver salary (California)
$61,148/yr
Rent as % of income
84.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,096, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,529/mo in rent. Redwood City's median rent of $4,301 exceeds that threshold by $2,772/mo, putting a bus driver salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bus driver works roughly 146.3 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 Redwood City, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

San Francisco, CA
$4,299/mo (84.4% of income)
Calabasas, CA
$4,297/mo (84.3% of income)
Encinitas, CA
$4,294/mo (84.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Redwood City

View full rent data for Redwood City, CA →

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Redwood City, CA?

Median rent in Redwood City is $4,301 a month. A typical bus driver in California earns about $61,148 a year, which makes that rent 84.4% 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 Redwood City?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in California (~$61,148/yr) supports up to $1,529 a month in rent. Redwood City's current median rent is $4,301/mo, which is $2,772/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $29 an hour, a bus driver in California works roughly 146.3 hours a month to cover Redwood City's median rent of $4,301.

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

Nearby California cities with lower median rent include San Francisco ($4,299/mo), Calabasas ($4,297/mo), Encinitas ($4,294/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 Redwood City, CA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.