Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Marion, IL?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 24.3% of gross income.

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

Marion median rent
$1,071/mo
Bus Driver salary (Illinois)
$52,856/yr
Rent as % of income
24.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,405, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,321/mo in rent. Marion's median rent of $1,071 leaves roughly $250/mo of headroom under that threshold. A bus driver works roughly 42.1 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 Illinois cities have lower median rent than Marion, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Belleville, IL
$1,066/mo (24.2% of income)
Kankakee, IL
$1,065/mo (24.2% of income)
Rock Island, IL
$1,061/mo (24.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Marion

View full rent data for Marion, IL

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Marion, IL?

Median rent in Marion is $1,071 a month. A typical bus driver in Illinois earns about $52,856 a year, which makes that rent 24.3% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a bus driver afford in Marion?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Illinois (~$52,856/yr) supports up to $1,321 a month in rent. Marion's current median rent is $1,071/mo, which leaves a $250/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $25 an hour, a bus driver in Illinois works roughly 42.1 hours a month to cover Marion's median rent of $1,071.

Where is rent cheaper than Marion for a bus driver?

Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Belleville ($1,066/mo), Kankakee ($1,065/mo), Rock Island ($1,061/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 Marion, IL. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.