Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Monroe, LA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 43.2% of gross income.

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

Monroe median rent
$1,622/mo
Bus Driver salary (Louisiana)
$45,083/yr
Rent as % of income
43.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,757, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,127/mo in rent. Monroe's median rent of $1,622 exceeds that threshold by $495/mo, putting a bus driver salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bus driver works roughly 74.8 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 Louisiana cities have lower median rent than Monroe, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Zachary, LA
$1,620/mo (43.1% of income)
Ponchatoula, LA
$1,619/mo (43.1% of income)
Ponchatoula, LA
$1,617/mo (43% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Monroe

View full rent data for Monroe, LA

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Monroe, LA?

Median rent in Monroe is $1,622 a month. A typical bus driver in Louisiana earns about $45,083 a year, which makes that rent 43.2% 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 Monroe?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Louisiana (~$45,083/yr) supports up to $1,127 a month in rent. Monroe's current median rent is $1,622/mo, which is $495/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $22 an hour, a bus driver in Louisiana works roughly 74.8 hours a month to cover Monroe's median rent of $1,622.

Where is rent cheaper than Monroe for a bus driver?

Nearby Louisiana cities with lower median rent include Zachary ($1,620/mo), Ponchatoula ($1,619/mo), Ponchatoula ($1,617/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 Monroe, LA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.