Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Ottawa, IL?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 29.2% of gross income.
Ottawa 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 Ottawa, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:
Compare with full rent data for Ottawa
View full rent data for Ottawa, IL →Frequently asked questions
Can a bus driver afford rent in Ottawa, IL?
Median rent in Ottawa is $1,287 a month. A typical bus driver in Illinois earns about $52,856 a year, which makes that rent 29.2% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a bus driver afford in Ottawa?
Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Illinois (~$52,856/yr) supports up to $1,321 a month in rent. Ottawa's current median rent is $1,287/mo, which leaves a $34/mo buffer.
How many hours does a bus driver work to cover rent in Ottawa?
At an hourly equivalent of about $25 an hour, a bus driver in Illinois works roughly 50.6 hours a month to cover Ottawa's median rent of $1,287.
Where is rent cheaper than Ottawa for a bus driver?
Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Berwyn ($1,285/mo), Berwyn ($1,284/mo), Normal ($1,282/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bus driver salary.