Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Ruston, LA?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 34.7% of gross income.

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

Ruston median rent
$1,303/mo
Bus Driver salary (Louisiana)
$45,083/yr
Rent as % of income
34.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,757, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,127/mo in rent. Ruston's median rent of $1,303 exceeds that threshold by $176/mo, putting a bus driver salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bus driver works roughly 60.1 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 Ruston, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Baton Rouge, LA
$1,302/mo (34.7% of income)
Baton Rouge, LA
$1,302/mo (34.7% of income)
Houma, LA
$1,302/mo (34.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Ruston

View full rent data for Ruston, LA

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Ruston, LA?

Median rent in Ruston is $1,303 a month. A typical bus driver in Louisiana earns about $45,083 a year, which makes that rent 34.7% 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 Ruston?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Louisiana (~$45,083/yr) supports up to $1,127 a month in rent. Ruston's current median rent is $1,303/mo, which is $176/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $22 an hour, a bus driver in Louisiana works roughly 60.1 hours a month to cover Ruston's median rent of $1,303.

Where is rent cheaper than Ruston for a bus driver?

Nearby Louisiana cities with lower median rent include Baton Rouge ($1,302/mo), Baton Rouge ($1,302/mo), Houma ($1,302/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 Ruston, LA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.