Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Grand Forks, ND?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 28% of gross income.

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

Grand Forks median rent
$1,172/mo
Bus Driver salary (North Dakota)
$50,265/yr
Rent as % of income
28%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,189, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,257/mo in rent. Grand Forks's median rent of $1,172 leaves roughly $85/mo of headroom under that threshold. A bus driver works roughly 48.5 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 Grand Forks, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Mandan, ND
$1,143/mo (27.3% of income)
Jamestown, ND
$1,143/mo (27.3% of income)
Minot, ND
$1,143/mo (27.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Grand Forks

View full rent data for Grand Forks, ND

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Grand Forks, ND?

Median rent in Grand Forks is $1,172 a month. A typical bus driver in North Dakota earns about $50,265 a year, which makes that rent 28% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a bus driver afford in Grand Forks?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in North Dakota (~$50,265/yr) supports up to $1,257 a month in rent. Grand Forks's current median rent is $1,172/mo, which leaves a $85/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $24 an hour, a bus driver in North Dakota works roughly 48.5 hours a month to cover Grand Forks's median rent of $1,172.

Where is rent cheaper than Grand Forks for a bus driver?

Nearby North Dakota cities with lower median rent include Mandan ($1,143/mo), Jamestown ($1,143/mo), Minot ($1,143/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 Grand Forks, ND. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.