Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Wichita, KS?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 29.8% of gross income.
Wichita rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Kansas 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 Kansas cities have lower median rent than Wichita, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:
Compare with full rent data for Wichita
View full rent data for Wichita, KS →Frequently asked questions
Can a bus driver afford rent in Wichita, KS?
Median rent in Wichita is $1,159 a month. A typical bus driver in Kansas earns about $46,638 a year, which makes that rent 29.8% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a bus driver afford in Wichita?
Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Kansas (~$46,638/yr) supports up to $1,166 a month in rent. Wichita's current median rent is $1,159/mo, which leaves a $7/mo buffer.
How many hours does a bus driver work to cover rent in Wichita?
At an hourly equivalent of about $22 an hour, a bus driver in Kansas works roughly 51.7 hours a month to cover Wichita's median rent of $1,159.
Where is rent cheaper than Wichita for a bus driver?
Nearby Kansas cities with lower median rent include Leavenworth ($1,157/mo), Leavenworth ($1,156/mo), Leavenworth ($1,152/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bus driver salary.