Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Opelousas, LA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 26.5% of gross income.

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

Opelousas median rent
$994/mo
Bus Driver salary (Louisiana)
$45,083/yr
Rent as % of income
26.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,757, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,127/mo in rent. Opelousas's median rent of $994 leaves roughly $133/mo of headroom under that threshold. A bus driver works roughly 45.9 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 Opelousas, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Pineville, LA
$991/mo (26.4% of income)
Pineville, LA
$980/mo (26.1% of income)
Monroe, LA
$976/mo (26% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Opelousas

View full rent data for Opelousas, LA

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Opelousas, LA?

Median rent in Opelousas is $994 a month. A typical bus driver in Louisiana earns about $45,083 a year, which makes that rent 26.5% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a bus driver afford in Opelousas?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Louisiana (~$45,083/yr) supports up to $1,127 a month in rent. Opelousas's current median rent is $994/mo, which leaves a $133/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $22 an hour, a bus driver in Louisiana works roughly 45.9 hours a month to cover Opelousas's median rent of $994.

Where is rent cheaper than Opelousas for a bus driver?

Nearby Louisiana cities with lower median rent include Pineville ($991/mo), Pineville ($980/mo), Monroe ($976/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 Opelousas, LA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.