Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Jefferson City, MO?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 27.6% of gross income.

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

Jefferson City median rent
$1,098/mo
Bus Driver salary (Missouri)
$47,674/yr
Rent as % of income
27.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,973, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,192/mo in rent. Jefferson City's median rent of $1,098 leaves roughly $94/mo of headroom under that threshold. A bus driver works roughly 47.9 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 Jefferson City, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Cape Girardeau, MO
$1,095/mo (27.6% of income)
Cape Girardeau, MO
$1,093/mo (27.5% of income)
Saint Charles, MO
$1,091/mo (27.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Jefferson City

View full rent data for Jefferson City, MO

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Jefferson City, MO?

Median rent in Jefferson City is $1,098 a month. A typical bus driver in Missouri earns about $47,674 a year, which makes that rent 27.6% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a bus driver afford in Jefferson City?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Missouri (~$47,674/yr) supports up to $1,192 a month in rent. Jefferson City's current median rent is $1,098/mo, which leaves a $94/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $23 an hour, a bus driver in Missouri works roughly 47.9 hours a month to cover Jefferson City's median rent of $1,098.

Where is rent cheaper than Jefferson City for a bus driver?

Nearby Missouri cities with lower median rent include Cape Girardeau ($1,095/mo), Cape Girardeau ($1,093/mo), Saint Charles ($1,091/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 Jefferson City, MO. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.