Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Pearl, MS?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 42.5% of gross income.

Pearl rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Mississippi state estimate).

Pearl median rent
$1,487/mo
Bus Driver salary (Mississippi)
$41,974/yr
Rent as % of income
42.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,498, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,049/mo in rent. Pearl's median rent of $1,487 exceeds that threshold by $438/mo, putting a bus driver salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bus driver works roughly 73.7 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 Mississippi cities have lower median rent than Pearl, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Gulfport, MS
$1,486/mo (42.5% of income)
Starkville, MS
$1,484/mo (42.4% of income)
Gulf Hills, MS
$1,482/mo (42.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Pearl

View full rent data for Pearl, MS

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Pearl, MS?

Median rent in Pearl is $1,487 a month. A typical bus driver in Mississippi earns about $41,974 a year, which makes that rent 42.5% 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 Pearl?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Mississippi (~$41,974/yr) supports up to $1,049 a month in rent. Pearl's current median rent is $1,487/mo, which is $438/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $20 an hour, a bus driver in Mississippi works roughly 73.7 hours a month to cover Pearl's median rent of $1,487.

Where is rent cheaper than Pearl for a bus driver?

Nearby Mississippi cities with lower median rent include Gulfport ($1,486/mo), Starkville ($1,484/mo), Gulf Hills ($1,482/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bus driver salary.

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