Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Fargo, ND?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 26% of gross income.

Fargo rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (North Dakota state estimate).

Fargo median rent
$1,088/mo
Bus Driver salary (North Dakota)
$50,265/yr
Rent as % of income
26%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,189, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,257/mo in rent. Fargo's median rent of $1,088 leaves roughly $169/mo of headroom under that threshold. A bus driver works roughly 45 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 Dakota cities have lower median rent than Fargo, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Minot, ND
$1,086/mo (25.9% of income)
Mandan, ND
$1,074/mo (25.6% of income)
Mandan, ND
$1,060/mo (25.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Fargo

View full rent data for Fargo, ND

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Fargo, ND?

Median rent in Fargo is $1,088 a month. A typical bus driver in North Dakota earns about $50,265 a year, which makes that rent 26% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a bus driver afford in Fargo?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in North Dakota (~$50,265/yr) supports up to $1,257 a month in rent. Fargo's current median rent is $1,088/mo, which leaves a $169/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $24 an hour, a bus driver in North Dakota works roughly 45 hours a month to cover Fargo's median rent of $1,088.

Where is rent cheaper than Fargo for a bus driver?

Nearby North Dakota cities with lower median rent include Minot ($1,086/mo), Mandan ($1,074/mo), Mandan ($1,060/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bus driver salary.

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