Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Rolla, MO?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 20.8% of gross income.

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

Rolla median rent
$828/mo
Bus Driver salary (Missouri)
$47,674/yr
Rent as % of income
20.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,973, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,192/mo in rent. Rolla's median rent of $828 leaves roughly $364/mo of headroom under that threshold. A bus driver works roughly 36.1 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 Missouri cities have lower median rent than Rolla, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Springfield, MO
$822/mo (20.7% of income)
Kirksville, MO
$806/mo (20.3% of income)
Maryville, MO
$774/mo (19.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Rolla

View full rent data for Rolla, MO

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Rolla, MO?

Median rent in Rolla is $828 a month. A typical bus driver in Missouri earns about $47,674 a year, which makes that rent 20.8% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a bus driver afford in Rolla?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Missouri (~$47,674/yr) supports up to $1,192 a month in rent. Rolla's current median rent is $828/mo, which leaves a $364/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $23 an hour, a bus driver in Missouri works roughly 36.1 hours a month to cover Rolla's median rent of $828.

Where is rent cheaper than Rolla for a bus driver?

Nearby Missouri cities with lower median rent include Springfield ($822/mo), Kirksville ($806/mo), Maryville ($774/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 Rolla, MO. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.