Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Dubuque, IA?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 27% of gross income.
Dubuque 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 Dubuque, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:
Compare with full rent data for Dubuque
View full rent data for Dubuque, IA →Frequently asked questions
Can a bus driver afford rent in Dubuque, IA?
Median rent in Dubuque is $1,073 a month. A typical bus driver in Iowa earns about $47,674 a year, which makes that rent 27% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a bus driver afford in Dubuque?
Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Iowa (~$47,674/yr) supports up to $1,192 a month in rent. Dubuque's current median rent is $1,073/mo, which leaves a $119/mo buffer.
How many hours does a bus driver work to cover rent in Dubuque?
At an hourly equivalent of about $23 an hour, a bus driver in Iowa works roughly 46.8 hours a month to cover Dubuque's median rent of $1,073.
Where is rent cheaper than Dubuque for a bus driver?
Nearby Iowa cities with lower median rent include Marshalltown ($1,068/mo), Cedar Rapids ($1,062/mo), Cedar Rapids ($1,061/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bus driver salary.