Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Pocatello, ID?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 27.7% of gross income.

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

Pocatello median rent
$1,063/mo
Bus Driver salary (Idaho)
$46,120/yr
Rent as % of income
27.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,843, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,153/mo in rent. Pocatello's median rent of $1,063 leaves roughly $90/mo of headroom under that threshold. A bus driver works roughly 47.9 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 Pocatello, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Blackfoot, ID
$1,060/mo (27.6% of income)
Nampa, ID
$1,052/mo (27.4% of income)
Blackfoot, ID
$988/mo (25.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Pocatello

View full rent data for Pocatello, ID

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Pocatello, ID?

Median rent in Pocatello is $1,063 a month. A typical bus driver in Idaho earns about $46,120 a year, which makes that rent 27.7% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a bus driver afford in Pocatello?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Idaho (~$46,120/yr) supports up to $1,153 a month in rent. Pocatello's current median rent is $1,063/mo, which leaves a $90/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $22 an hour, a bus driver in Idaho works roughly 47.9 hours a month to cover Pocatello's median rent of $1,063.

Where is rent cheaper than Pocatello for a bus driver?

Nearby Idaho cities with lower median rent include Blackfoot ($1,060/mo), Nampa ($1,052/mo), Blackfoot ($988/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 Pocatello, ID. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.