Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in West Monroe, LA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 29.9% of gross income.

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

West Monroe median rent
$1,122/mo
Bus Driver salary (Louisiana)
$45,083/yr
Rent as % of income
29.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,757, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,127/mo in rent. West Monroe's median rent of $1,122 leaves roughly $5/mo of headroom under that threshold. A bus driver works roughly 51.8 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 West Monroe, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

New Iberia, LA
$1,121/mo (29.8% of income)
Ruston, LA
$1,115/mo (29.7% of income)
Baton Rouge, LA
$1,113/mo (29.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for West Monroe

View full rent data for West Monroe, LA

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in West Monroe, LA?

Median rent in West Monroe is $1,122 a month. A typical bus driver in Louisiana earns about $45,083 a year, which makes that rent 29.9% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a bus driver afford in West Monroe?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Louisiana (~$45,083/yr) supports up to $1,127 a month in rent. West Monroe's current median rent is $1,122/mo, which leaves a $5/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $22 an hour, a bus driver in Louisiana works roughly 51.8 hours a month to cover West Monroe's median rent of $1,122.

Where is rent cheaper than West Monroe for a bus driver?

Nearby Louisiana cities with lower median rent include New Iberia ($1,121/mo), Ruston ($1,115/mo), Baton Rouge ($1,113/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 West Monroe, LA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.