Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Branson, MO?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 34.2% of gross income.

Branson rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Missouri state estimate).

Branson median rent
$1,358/mo
Bus Driver salary (Missouri)
$47,674/yr
Rent as % of income
34.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,973, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,192/mo in rent. Branson's median rent of $1,358 exceeds that threshold by $166/mo, putting a bus driver salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bus driver works roughly 59.2 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 Missouri cities have lower median rent than Branson, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Ozark, MO
$1,357/mo (34.2% of income)
Raytown, MO
$1,355/mo (34.1% of income)
Columbia, MO
$1,355/mo (34.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Branson

View full rent data for Branson, MO

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Branson, MO?

Median rent in Branson is $1,358 a month. A typical bus driver in Missouri earns about $47,674 a year, which makes that rent 34.2% 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 Branson?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Missouri (~$47,674/yr) supports up to $1,192 a month in rent. Branson's current median rent is $1,358/mo, which is $166/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $23 an hour, a bus driver in Missouri works roughly 59.2 hours a month to cover Branson's median rent of $1,358.

Where is rent cheaper than Branson for a bus driver?

Nearby Missouri cities with lower median rent include Ozark ($1,357/mo), Raytown ($1,355/mo), Columbia ($1,355/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bus driver salary.

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