Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Bozeman, MT?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 58.6% of gross income.

Bozeman rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Montana state estimate).

Bozeman median rent
$2,227/mo
Bus Driver salary (Montana)
$45,602/yr
Rent as % of income
58.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,800, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,140/mo in rent. Bozeman's median rent of $2,227 exceeds that threshold by $1,087/mo, putting a bus driver salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bus driver works roughly 101.6 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 Montana cities have lower median rent than Bozeman, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Belgrade, MT
$2,223/mo (58.5% of income)
Belgrade, MT
$2,222/mo (58.5% of income)
Belgrade, MT
$2,222/mo (58.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Bozeman

View full rent data for Bozeman, MT

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Bozeman, MT?

Median rent in Bozeman is $2,227 a month. A typical bus driver in Montana earns about $45,602 a year, which makes that rent 58.6% 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 Bozeman?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Montana (~$45,602/yr) supports up to $1,140 a month in rent. Bozeman's current median rent is $2,227/mo, which is $1,087/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $22 an hour, a bus driver in Montana works roughly 101.6 hours a month to cover Bozeman's median rent of $2,227.

Where is rent cheaper than Bozeman for a bus driver?

Nearby Montana cities with lower median rent include Belgrade ($2,223/mo), Belgrade ($2,222/mo), Belgrade ($2,222/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bus driver salary.

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