Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Santa Rosa, CA?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 50.5% of gross income.
Santa Rosa rent: July 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 Santa Rosa, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:
Compare with full rent data for Santa Rosa
View full rent data for Santa Rosa, CA →Frequently asked questions
Can a bus driver afford rent in Santa Rosa, CA?
Median rent in Santa Rosa is $2,574 a month. A typical bus driver in California earns about $61,148 a year, which makes that rent 50.5% 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 Santa Rosa?
Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in California (~$61,148/yr) supports up to $1,529 a month in rent. Santa Rosa's current median rent is $2,574/mo, which is $1,045/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a bus driver work to cover rent in Santa Rosa?
At an hourly equivalent of about $29 an hour, a bus driver in California works roughly 87.6 hours a month to cover Santa Rosa's median rent of $2,574.
Where is rent cheaper than Santa Rosa for a bus driver?
Nearby California cities with lower median rent include Salinas ($2,573/mo), Roseville ($2,573/mo), Paramount ($2,573/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bus driver salary.