Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in East Chicago, IN?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 25.6% of gross income.
East Chicago rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Indiana 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 Indiana cities have lower median rent than East Chicago, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:
Compare with full rent data for East Chicago
View full rent data for East Chicago, IN →Frequently asked questions
Can a bus driver afford rent in East Chicago, IN?
Median rent in East Chicago is $1,019 a month. A typical bus driver in Indiana earns about $47,674 a year, which makes that rent 25.6% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a bus driver afford in East Chicago?
Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Indiana (~$47,674/yr) supports up to $1,192 a month in rent. East Chicago's current median rent is $1,019/mo, which leaves a $173/mo buffer.
How many hours does a bus driver work to cover rent in East Chicago?
At an hourly equivalent of about $23 an hour, a bus driver in Indiana works roughly 44.5 hours a month to cover East Chicago's median rent of $1,019.
Where is rent cheaper than East Chicago for a bus driver?
Nearby Indiana cities with lower median rent include Kokomo ($1,017/mo), Kokomo ($1,017/mo), Evansville ($1,015/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bus driver salary.