Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Columbia, MD?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 48.8% of gross income.
Columbia rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Maryland state estimate).
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 Maryland cities have lower median rent than Columbia, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:
Compare with full rent data for Columbia
View full rent data for Columbia, MD →Frequently asked questions
Can a bus driver afford rent in Columbia, MD?
Median rent in Columbia is $2,276 a month. A typical bus driver in Maryland earns about $55,966 a year, which makes that rent 48.8% 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 Columbia?
Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Maryland (~$55,966/yr) supports up to $1,399 a month in rent. Columbia's current median rent is $2,276/mo, which is $877/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a bus driver work to cover rent in Columbia?
At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a bus driver in Maryland works roughly 84.6 hours a month to cover Columbia's median rent of $2,276.
Where is rent cheaper than Columbia for a bus driver?
Nearby Maryland cities with lower median rent include Montgomery Village ($2,275/mo), Waldorf ($2,275/mo), Annapolis ($2,275/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bus driver salary.