Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Austin, MN?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 23.2% of gross income.
Austin rent: July 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 Austin, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:
Compare with full rent data for Austin
View full rent data for Austin, MN →Frequently asked questions
Can a bus driver afford rent in Austin, MN?
Median rent in Austin is $1,041 a month. A typical bus driver in Minnesota earns about $53,893 a year, which makes that rent 23.2% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a bus driver afford in Austin?
Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Minnesota (~$53,893/yr) supports up to $1,347 a month in rent. Austin's current median rent is $1,041/mo, which leaves a $306/mo buffer.
How many hours does a bus driver work to cover rent in Austin?
At an hourly equivalent of about $26 an hour, a bus driver in Minnesota works roughly 40.2 hours a month to cover Austin's median rent of $1,041.
Where is rent cheaper than Austin for a bus driver?
Nearby Minnesota cities with lower median rent include Waseca ($990/mo), Albert Lea ($963/mo), Albert Lea ($960/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bus driver salary.