Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Mankato, MN?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 26.6% of gross income.
Mankato 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 Mankato, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:
Compare with full rent data for Mankato
View full rent data for Mankato, MN →Frequently asked questions
Can a bus driver afford rent in Mankato, MN?
Median rent in Mankato is $1,196 a month. A typical bus driver in Minnesota earns about $53,893 a year, which makes that rent 26.6% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a bus driver afford in Mankato?
Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Minnesota (~$53,893/yr) supports up to $1,347 a month in rent. Mankato's current median rent is $1,196/mo, which leaves a $151/mo buffer.
How many hours does a bus driver work to cover rent in Mankato?
At an hourly equivalent of about $26 an hour, a bus driver in Minnesota works roughly 46.2 hours a month to cover Mankato's median rent of $1,196.
Where is rent cheaper than Mankato for a bus driver?
Nearby Minnesota cities with lower median rent include Owatonna ($1,194/mo), Waite Park ($1,188/mo), Winona ($1,188/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bus driver salary.