Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Waseca, MN?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 22% of gross income.

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

Waseca median rent
$990/mo
Bus Driver salary (Minnesota)
$53,893/yr
Rent as % of income
22%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,491, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,347/mo in rent. Waseca's median rent of $990 leaves roughly $357/mo of headroom under that threshold. A bus driver works roughly 38.2 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 Waseca, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Austin, MN
$988/mo (22% of income)
Austin, MN
$969/mo (21.6% of income)
Albert Lea, MN
$963/mo (21.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Waseca

View full rent data for Waseca, MN

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Waseca, MN?

Median rent in Waseca is $990 a month. A typical bus driver in Minnesota earns about $53,893 a year, which makes that rent 22% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a bus driver afford in Waseca?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Minnesota (~$53,893/yr) supports up to $1,347 a month in rent. Waseca's current median rent is $990/mo, which leaves a $357/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $26 an hour, a bus driver in Minnesota works roughly 38.2 hours a month to cover Waseca's median rent of $990.

Where is rent cheaper than Waseca for a bus driver?

Nearby Minnesota cities with lower median rent include Austin ($988/mo), Austin ($969/mo), Albert Lea ($963/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 Waseca, MN. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.