Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Salina, KS?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 26.4% of gross income.

Salina rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Kansas state estimate).

Salina median rent
$1,026/mo
Bus Driver salary (Kansas)
$46,638/yr
Rent as % of income
26.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,887, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,166/mo in rent. Salina's median rent of $1,026 leaves roughly $140/mo of headroom under that threshold. A bus driver works roughly 45.8 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 Kansas cities have lower median rent than Salina, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Lawrence, KS
$981/mo (25.2% of income)
Kansas City, KS
$980/mo (25.2% of income)
Pittsburg, KS
$962/mo (24.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Salina

View full rent data for Salina, KS

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Salina, KS?

Median rent in Salina is $1,026 a month. A typical bus driver in Kansas earns about $46,638 a year, which makes that rent 26.4% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a bus driver afford in Salina?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Kansas (~$46,638/yr) supports up to $1,166 a month in rent. Salina's current median rent is $1,026/mo, which leaves a $140/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $22 an hour, a bus driver in Kansas works roughly 45.8 hours a month to cover Salina's median rent of $1,026.

Where is rent cheaper than Salina for a bus driver?

Nearby Kansas cities with lower median rent include Lawrence ($981/mo), Kansas City ($980/mo), Pittsburg ($962/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bus driver salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived Kansas state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Salina, KS. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.