Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Owatonna, MN?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 26% of gross income.

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

Owatonna median rent
$1,168/mo
Bus Driver salary (Minnesota)
$53,893/yr
Rent as % of income
26%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,491, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,347/mo in rent. Owatonna's median rent of $1,168 leaves roughly $179/mo of headroom under that threshold. A bus driver works roughly 45.1 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 Owatonna, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Saint Cloud, MN
$1,164/mo (25.9% of income)
Winona, MN
$1,163/mo (25.9% of income)
Winona, MN
$1,160/mo (25.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Owatonna

View full rent data for Owatonna, MN

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Owatonna, MN?

Median rent in Owatonna is $1,168 a month. A typical bus driver in Minnesota earns about $53,893 a year, which makes that rent 26% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a bus driver afford in Owatonna?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Minnesota (~$53,893/yr) supports up to $1,347 a month in rent. Owatonna's current median rent is $1,168/mo, which leaves a $179/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $26 an hour, a bus driver in Minnesota works roughly 45.1 hours a month to cover Owatonna's median rent of $1,168.

Where is rent cheaper than Owatonna for a bus driver?

Nearby Minnesota cities with lower median rent include Saint Cloud ($1,164/mo), Winona ($1,163/mo), Winona ($1,160/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 Owatonna, MN. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.