Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Meridian, ID?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 53.7% of gross income.

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

Meridian median rent
$2,065/mo
Bus Driver salary (Idaho)
$46,120/yr
Rent as % of income
53.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,843, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,153/mo in rent. Meridian's median rent of $2,065 exceeds that threshold by $912/mo, putting a bus driver salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bus driver works roughly 93.1 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 Meridian, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Eagle, ID
$2,052/mo (53.4% of income)
Kimberly, ID
$2,050/mo (53.3% of income)
Eagle, ID
$2,045/mo (53.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Meridian

View full rent data for Meridian, ID

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Meridian, ID?

Median rent in Meridian is $2,065 a month. A typical bus driver in Idaho earns about $46,120 a year, which makes that rent 53.7% 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 Meridian?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Idaho (~$46,120/yr) supports up to $1,153 a month in rent. Meridian's current median rent is $2,065/mo, which is $912/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $22 an hour, a bus driver in Idaho works roughly 93.1 hours a month to cover Meridian's median rent of $2,065.

Where is rent cheaper than Meridian for a bus driver?

Nearby Idaho cities with lower median rent include Eagle ($2,052/mo), Kimberly ($2,050/mo), Eagle ($2,045/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 Meridian, ID. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.