Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Lewiston, ID?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 36.9% of gross income.

Lewiston rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Idaho state estimate).

Lewiston median rent
$1,419/mo
Bus Driver salary (Idaho)
$46,120/yr
Rent as % of income
36.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,843, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,153/mo in rent. Lewiston's median rent of $1,419 exceeds that threshold by $266/mo, putting a bus driver salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bus driver works roughly 64 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 Idaho cities have lower median rent than Lewiston, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Idaho Falls, ID
$1,404/mo (36.5% of income)
Meridian, ID
$1,404/mo (36.5% of income)
Post Falls, ID
$1,392/mo (36.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Lewiston

View full rent data for Lewiston, ID

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Lewiston, ID?

Median rent in Lewiston is $1,419 a month. A typical bus driver in Idaho earns about $46,120 a year, which makes that rent 36.9% 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 Lewiston?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Idaho (~$46,120/yr) supports up to $1,153 a month in rent. Lewiston's current median rent is $1,419/mo, which is $266/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $22 an hour, a bus driver in Idaho works roughly 64 hours a month to cover Lewiston's median rent of $1,419.

Where is rent cheaper than Lewiston for a bus driver?

Nearby Idaho cities with lower median rent include Idaho Falls ($1,404/mo), Meridian ($1,404/mo), Post Falls ($1,392/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bus driver salary.

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