Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Elizabeth City, NC?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 39.6% of gross income.

Elizabeth City rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (North Carolina state estimate).

Elizabeth City median rent
$1,607/mo
Bus Driver salary (North Carolina)
$48,711/yr
Rent as % of income
39.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,059, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,218/mo in rent. Elizabeth City's median rent of $1,607 exceeds that threshold by $389/mo, putting a bus driver salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bus driver works roughly 68.6 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 North Carolina cities have lower median rent than Elizabeth City, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Indian Trail, NC
$1,605/mo (39.5% of income)
Kernersville, NC
$1,605/mo (39.5% of income)
Morehead City, NC
$1,605/mo (39.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Elizabeth City

View full rent data for Elizabeth City, NC

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Elizabeth City, NC?

Median rent in Elizabeth City is $1,607 a month. A typical bus driver in North Carolina earns about $48,711 a year, which makes that rent 39.6% 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 Elizabeth City?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in North Carolina (~$48,711/yr) supports up to $1,218 a month in rent. Elizabeth City's current median rent is $1,607/mo, which is $389/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $23 an hour, a bus driver in North Carolina works roughly 68.6 hours a month to cover Elizabeth City's median rent of $1,607.

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

Nearby North Carolina cities with lower median rent include Indian Trail ($1,605/mo), Kernersville ($1,605/mo), Morehead City ($1,605/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bus driver salary.

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