Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Decatur, IL?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 22.6% of gross income.
Decatur rent: July 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 Decatur, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:
Compare with full rent data for Decatur
View full rent data for Decatur, IL →Frequently asked questions
Can a bus driver afford rent in Decatur, IL?
Median rent in Decatur is $995 a month. A typical bus driver in Illinois earns about $52,856 a year, which makes that rent 22.6% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a bus driver afford in Decatur?
Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Illinois (~$52,856/yr) supports up to $1,321 a month in rent. Decatur's current median rent is $995/mo, which leaves a $326/mo buffer.
How many hours does a bus driver work to cover rent in Decatur?
At an hourly equivalent of about $25 an hour, a bus driver in Illinois works roughly 39.2 hours a month to cover Decatur's median rent of $995.
Where is rent cheaper than Decatur for a bus driver?
Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Dixon ($991/mo), Pekin ($990/mo), Dixon ($988/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bus driver salary.