Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Torrance, CA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 58.8% of gross income.

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

Torrance median rent
$2,997/mo
Bus Driver salary (California)
$61,148/yr
Rent as % of income
58.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,096, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,529/mo in rent. Torrance's median rent of $2,997 exceeds that threshold by $1,468/mo, putting a bus driver salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bus driver works roughly 101.9 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 Torrance, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Costa Mesa, CA
$2,996/mo (58.8% of income)
Berkeley, CA
$2,996/mo (58.8% of income)
Oxnard, CA
$2,996/mo (58.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Torrance

View full rent data for Torrance, CA

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Torrance, CA?

Median rent in Torrance is $2,997 a month. A typical bus driver in California earns about $61,148 a year, which makes that rent 58.8% 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 Torrance?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in California (~$61,148/yr) supports up to $1,529 a month in rent. Torrance's current median rent is $2,997/mo, which is $1,468/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $29 an hour, a bus driver in California works roughly 101.9 hours a month to cover Torrance's median rent of $2,997.

Where is rent cheaper than Torrance for a bus driver?

Nearby California cities with lower median rent include Costa Mesa ($2,996/mo), Berkeley ($2,996/mo), Oxnard ($2,996/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 Torrance, CA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.