Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Urbandale, IA?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 26.1% of gross income.
Urbandale 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 Urbandale, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:
Compare with full rent data for Urbandale
View full rent data for Urbandale, IA →Frequently asked questions
Can a bus driver afford rent in Urbandale, IA?
Median rent in Urbandale is $1,038 a month. A typical bus driver in Iowa earns about $47,674 a year, which makes that rent 26.1% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a bus driver afford in Urbandale?
Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Iowa (~$47,674/yr) supports up to $1,192 a month in rent. Urbandale's current median rent is $1,038/mo, which leaves a $154/mo buffer.
How many hours does a bus driver work to cover rent in Urbandale?
At an hourly equivalent of about $23 an hour, a bus driver in Iowa works roughly 45.3 hours a month to cover Urbandale's median rent of $1,038.
Where is rent cheaper than Urbandale for a bus driver?
Nearby Iowa cities with lower median rent include Indianola ($1,036/mo), Dubuque ($1,035/mo), Pella ($1,035/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bus driver salary.