Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Cicero, IL?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 27.9% of gross income.

Cicero rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Illinois state estimate).

Cicero median rent
$1,229/mo
Bus Driver salary (Illinois)
$52,856/yr
Rent as % of income
27.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,405, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,321/mo in rent. Cicero's median rent of $1,229 leaves roughly $92/mo of headroom under that threshold. A bus driver works roughly 48.4 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 Illinois cities have lower median rent than Cicero, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Fairview Heights, IL
$1,228/mo (27.9% of income)
Shiloh, IL
$1,224/mo (27.8% of income)
Riverdale, IL
$1,224/mo (27.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Cicero

View full rent data for Cicero, IL

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Cicero, IL?

Median rent in Cicero is $1,229 a month. A typical bus driver in Illinois earns about $52,856 a year, which makes that rent 27.9% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a bus driver afford in Cicero?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Illinois (~$52,856/yr) supports up to $1,321 a month in rent. Cicero's current median rent is $1,229/mo, which leaves a $92/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $25 an hour, a bus driver in Illinois works roughly 48.4 hours a month to cover Cicero's median rent of $1,229.

Where is rent cheaper than Cicero for a bus driver?

Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Fairview Heights ($1,228/mo), Shiloh ($1,224/mo), Riverdale ($1,224/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bus driver salary.

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