Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Aspen, CO?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 397.9% of gross income.

Aspen rent: April 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Colorado state estimate).

Aspen median rent
$18,041/mo
Bus Driver salary (Colorado)
$54,411/yr
Rent as % of income
397.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,534, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,360/mo in rent. Aspen's median rent of $18,041 exceeds that threshold by $16,681/mo, putting a bus driver salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bus driver works roughly 689.7 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 Colorado cities have lower median rent than Aspen, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Basalt, CO
$5,900/mo (130.1% of income)
Vail, CO
$5,250/mo (115.8% of income)
Basalt, CO
$5,050/mo (111.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Aspen

View full rent data for Aspen, CO

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Aspen, CO?

Median rent in Aspen is $18,041 a month. A typical bus driver in Colorado earns about $54,411 a year, which makes that rent 397.9% 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 Aspen?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Colorado (~$54,411/yr) supports up to $1,360 a month in rent. Aspen's current median rent is $18,041/mo, which is $16,681/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $26 an hour, a bus driver in Colorado works roughly 689.7 hours a month to cover Aspen's median rent of $18,041.

Where is rent cheaper than Aspen for a bus driver?

Nearby Colorado cities with lower median rent include Basalt ($5,900/mo), Vail ($5,250/mo), Basalt ($5,050/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bus driver salary.

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