Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Buffalo, MN?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 33.6% of gross income.

Buffalo rent: May 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Minnesota state estimate).

Buffalo median rent
$1,509/mo
Bus Driver salary (Minnesota)
$53,893/yr
Rent as % of income
33.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,491, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,347/mo in rent. Buffalo's median rent of $1,509 exceeds that threshold by $162/mo, putting a bus driver salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bus driver works roughly 58.2 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 Minnesota cities have lower median rent than Buffalo, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Minnetonka, MN
$1,508/mo (33.6% of income)
Robbinsdale, MN
$1,507/mo (33.6% of income)
Brooklyn Center, MN
$1,507/mo (33.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Buffalo

View full rent data for Buffalo, MN

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Buffalo, MN?

Median rent in Buffalo is $1,509 a month. A typical bus driver in Minnesota earns about $53,893 a year, which makes that rent 33.6% 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 Buffalo?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Minnesota (~$53,893/yr) supports up to $1,347 a month in rent. Buffalo's current median rent is $1,509/mo, which is $162/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $26 an hour, a bus driver in Minnesota works roughly 58.2 hours a month to cover Buffalo's median rent of $1,509.

Where is rent cheaper than Buffalo for a bus driver?

Nearby Minnesota cities with lower median rent include Minnetonka ($1,508/mo), Robbinsdale ($1,507/mo), Brooklyn Center ($1,507/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bus driver salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived Minnesota state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Buffalo, MN. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.