Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Normal, IL?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 28.8% of gross income.
Normal 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 Normal, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:
Compare with full rent data for Normal
View full rent data for Normal, IL →Frequently asked questions
Can a bus driver afford rent in Normal, IL?
Median rent in Normal is $1,267 a month. A typical bus driver in Illinois earns about $52,856 a year, which makes that rent 28.8% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a bus driver afford in Normal?
Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Illinois (~$52,856/yr) supports up to $1,321 a month in rent. Normal's current median rent is $1,267/mo, which leaves a $54/mo buffer.
How many hours does a bus driver work to cover rent in Normal?
At an hourly equivalent of about $25 an hour, a bus driver in Illinois works roughly 49.9 hours a month to cover Normal's median rent of $1,267.
Where is rent cheaper than Normal for a bus driver?
Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Fairview Heights ($1,266/mo), Maywood ($1,263/mo), Troy ($1,262/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bus driver salary.