Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Miles City, MT?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 22.4% of gross income.

Miles City rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Montana state estimate).

Miles City median rent
$850/mo
Bus Driver salary (Montana)
$45,602/yr
Rent as % of income
22.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,800, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,140/mo in rent. Miles City's median rent of $850 leaves roughly $290/mo of headroom under that threshold. A bus driver works roughly 38.8 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 Miles City, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Great Falls, MT
$818/mo (21.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Miles City

View full rent data for Miles City, MT

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Miles City, MT?

Median rent in Miles City is $850 a month. A typical bus driver in Montana earns about $45,602 a year, which makes that rent 22.4% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

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

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Montana (~$45,602/yr) supports up to $1,140 a month in rent. Miles City's current median rent is $850/mo, which leaves a $290/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $22 an hour, a bus driver in Montana works roughly 38.8 hours a month to cover Miles City's median rent of $850.

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

Nearby Montana cities with lower median rent include Great Falls ($818/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 Miles City, MT. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.