Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Chalmette, LA?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 38.9% of gross income.

Chalmette rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Louisiana state estimate).

Chalmette median rent
$1,461/mo
Bus Driver salary (Louisiana)
$45,083/yr
Rent as % of income
38.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,757, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,127/mo in rent. Chalmette's median rent of $1,461 exceeds that threshold by $334/mo, putting a bus driver salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bus driver works roughly 67.4 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 Louisiana cities have lower median rent than Chalmette, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Thibodaux, LA
$1,459/mo (38.8% of income)
Bossier City, LA
$1,454/mo (38.7% of income)
Marrero, LA
$1,453/mo (38.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Chalmette

View full rent data for Chalmette, LA

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Chalmette, LA?

Median rent in Chalmette is $1,461 a month. A typical bus driver in Louisiana earns about $45,083 a year, which makes that rent 38.9% 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 Chalmette?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Louisiana (~$45,083/yr) supports up to $1,127 a month in rent. Chalmette's current median rent is $1,461/mo, which is $334/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $22 an hour, a bus driver in Louisiana works roughly 67.4 hours a month to cover Chalmette's median rent of $1,461.

Where is rent cheaper than Chalmette for a bus driver?

Nearby Louisiana cities with lower median rent include Thibodaux ($1,459/mo), Bossier City ($1,454/mo), Marrero ($1,453/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bus driver salary.

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