Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Charleston, IL?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 16.6% of gross income.
Charleston rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Illinois 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 Illinois cities have lower median rent than Charleston, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:
Compare with full rent data for Charleston
View full rent data for Charleston, IL →Frequently asked questions
Can a bus driver afford rent in Charleston, IL?
Median rent in Charleston is $730 a month. A typical bus driver in Illinois earns about $52,856 a year, which makes that rent 16.6% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a bus driver afford in Charleston?
Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Illinois (~$52,856/yr) supports up to $1,321 a month in rent. Charleston's current median rent is $730/mo, which leaves a $591/mo buffer.
How many hours does a bus driver work to cover rent in Charleston?
At an hourly equivalent of about $25 an hour, a bus driver in Illinois works roughly 28.7 hours a month to cover Charleston's median rent of $730.
Where is rent cheaper than Charleston for a bus driver?
Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Belleville ($724/mo), Carbondale ($679/mo), Belleville ($671/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bus driver salary.