Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Saint Petersburg, FL?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 51.2% of gross income.

Saint Petersburg rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Florida state estimate).

Saint Petersburg median rent
$2,058/mo
Bus Driver salary (Florida)
$48,193/yr
Rent as % of income
51.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,016, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,205/mo in rent. Saint Petersburg's median rent of $2,058 exceeds that threshold by $853/mo, putting a bus driver salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bus driver works roughly 88.8 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 Florida cities have lower median rent than Saint Petersburg, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Plant City, FL
$2,057/mo (51.2% of income)
Westchase, FL
$2,057/mo (51.2% of income)
Gulf Breeze, FL
$2,057/mo (51.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Saint Petersburg

View full rent data for Saint Petersburg, FL

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Saint Petersburg, FL?

Median rent in Saint Petersburg is $2,058 a month. A typical bus driver in Florida earns about $48,193 a year, which makes that rent 51.2% 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 Saint Petersburg?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Florida (~$48,193/yr) supports up to $1,205 a month in rent. Saint Petersburg's current median rent is $2,058/mo, which is $853/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $23 an hour, a bus driver in Florida works roughly 88.8 hours a month to cover Saint Petersburg's median rent of $2,058.

Where is rent cheaper than Saint Petersburg for a bus driver?

Nearby Florida cities with lower median rent include Plant City ($2,057/mo), Westchase ($2,057/mo), Gulf Breeze ($2,057/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bus driver salary.

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