Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Durango, CO?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 43.7% of gross income.

Durango rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Colorado state estimate).

Durango median rent
$1,982/mo
Bus Driver salary (Colorado)
$54,411/yr
Rent as % of income
43.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,534, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,360/mo in rent. Durango's median rent of $1,982 exceeds that threshold by $622/mo, putting a bus driver salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bus driver works roughly 75.8 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 Durango, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Broomfield, CO
$1,981/mo (43.7% of income)
Johnstown, CO
$1,981/mo (43.7% of income)
Cherry Creek, CO
$1,981/mo (43.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Durango

View full rent data for Durango, CO

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Durango, CO?

Median rent in Durango is $1,982 a month. A typical bus driver in Colorado earns about $54,411 a year, which makes that rent 43.7% 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 Durango?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Colorado (~$54,411/yr) supports up to $1,360 a month in rent. Durango's current median rent is $1,982/mo, which is $622/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $26 an hour, a bus driver in Colorado works roughly 75.8 hours a month to cover Durango's median rent of $1,982.

Where is rent cheaper than Durango for a bus driver?

Nearby Colorado cities with lower median rent include Broomfield ($1,981/mo), Johnstown ($1,981/mo), Cherry Creek ($1,981/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 Durango, CO. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.