Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Des Moines, IA?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 28.4% of gross income.
Des Moines rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Iowa 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 Iowa cities have lower median rent than Des Moines, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:
Compare with full rent data for Des Moines
View full rent data for Des Moines, IA →Frequently asked questions
Can a bus driver afford rent in Des Moines, IA?
Median rent in Des Moines is $1,129 a month. A typical bus driver in Iowa earns about $47,674 a year, which makes that rent 28.4% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a bus driver afford in Des Moines?
Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Iowa (~$47,674/yr) supports up to $1,192 a month in rent. Des Moines's current median rent is $1,129/mo, which leaves a $63/mo buffer.
How many hours does a bus driver work to cover rent in Des Moines?
At an hourly equivalent of about $23 an hour, a bus driver in Iowa works roughly 49.3 hours a month to cover Des Moines's median rent of $1,129.
Where is rent cheaper than Des Moines for a bus driver?
Nearby Iowa cities with lower median rent include Coralville ($1,128/mo), Coralville ($1,127/mo), Marion ($1,124/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bus driver salary.