Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Albert Lea, MN?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 21.4% of gross income.
Albert Lea rent: April 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Minnesota 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 Minnesota cities have lower median rent than Albert Lea, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:
Compare with full rent data for Albert Lea
View full rent data for Albert Lea, MN →Frequently asked questions
Can a bus driver afford rent in Albert Lea, MN?
Median rent in Albert Lea is $960 a month. A typical bus driver in Minnesota earns about $53,893 a year, which makes that rent 21.4% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a bus driver afford in Albert Lea?
Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Minnesota (~$53,893/yr) supports up to $1,347 a month in rent. Albert Lea's current median rent is $960/mo, which leaves a $387/mo buffer.
How many hours does a bus driver work to cover rent in Albert Lea?
At an hourly equivalent of about $26 an hour, a bus driver in Minnesota works roughly 37.1 hours a month to cover Albert Lea's median rent of $960.
Where is rent cheaper than Albert Lea for a bus driver?
Nearby Minnesota cities with lower median rent include Austin ($947/mo), Saint Cloud ($905/mo), Saint Cloud ($872/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bus driver salary.