Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Lexington, KY?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 40.8% of gross income.
Lexington rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Kentucky 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 Kentucky cities have lower median rent than Lexington, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:
Compare with full rent data for Lexington
View full rent data for Lexington, KY →Frequently asked questions
Can a bus driver afford rent in Lexington, KY?
Median rent in Lexington is $1,551 a month. A typical bus driver in Kentucky earns about $45,602 a year, which makes that rent 40.8% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.
How much rent can a bus driver afford in Lexington?
Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Kentucky (~$45,602/yr) supports up to $1,140 a month in rent. Lexington's current median rent is $1,551/mo, which is $411/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a bus driver work to cover rent in Lexington?
At an hourly equivalent of about $22 an hour, a bus driver in Kentucky works roughly 70.7 hours a month to cover Lexington's median rent of $1,551.
Where is rent cheaper than Lexington for a bus driver?
Nearby Kentucky cities with lower median rent include Nicholasville ($1,546/mo), Shepherdsville ($1,543/mo), Newport ($1,540/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bus driver salary.