Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in West Saint Paul, MN?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 31.8% of gross income.

West Saint Paul rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Minnesota state estimate).

West Saint Paul median rent
$1,428/mo
Bus Driver salary (Minnesota)
$53,893/yr
Rent as % of income
31.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,491, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,347/mo in rent. West Saint Paul's median rent of $1,428 exceeds that threshold by $81/mo, putting a bus driver salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bus driver works roughly 55.1 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 West Saint Paul, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Maplewood, MN
$1,427/mo (31.8% of income)
Roseville, MN
$1,427/mo (31.8% of income)
Fridley, MN
$1,426/mo (31.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for West Saint Paul

View full rent data for West Saint Paul, MN

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in West Saint Paul, MN?

Median rent in West Saint Paul is $1,428 a month. A typical bus driver in Minnesota earns about $53,893 a year, which makes that rent 31.8% 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 West Saint Paul?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Minnesota (~$53,893/yr) supports up to $1,347 a month in rent. West Saint Paul's current median rent is $1,428/mo, which is $81/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a bus driver work to cover rent in West Saint Paul?

At an hourly equivalent of about $26 an hour, a bus driver in Minnesota works roughly 55.1 hours a month to cover West Saint Paul's median rent of $1,428.

Where is rent cheaper than West Saint Paul for a bus driver?

Nearby Minnesota cities with lower median rent include Maplewood ($1,427/mo), Roseville ($1,427/mo), Fridley ($1,426/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 West Saint Paul, MN. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.