Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Mandan, ND?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 33.7% of gross income.

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

Mandan median rent
$1,410/mo
Bus Driver salary (North Dakota)
$50,265/yr
Rent as % of income
33.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,189, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,257/mo in rent. Mandan's median rent of $1,410 exceeds that threshold by $153/mo, putting a bus driver salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bus driver works roughly 58.3 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 Mandan, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

West Fargo, ND
$1,395/mo (33.3% of income)
Bismarck, ND
$1,374/mo (32.8% of income)
Bismarck, ND
$1,372/mo (32.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Mandan

View full rent data for Mandan, ND

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Mandan, ND?

Median rent in Mandan is $1,410 a month. A typical bus driver in North Dakota earns about $50,265 a year, which makes that rent 33.7% 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 Mandan?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in North Dakota (~$50,265/yr) supports up to $1,257 a month in rent. Mandan's current median rent is $1,410/mo, which is $153/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $24 an hour, a bus driver in North Dakota works roughly 58.3 hours a month to cover Mandan's median rent of $1,410.

Where is rent cheaper than Mandan for a bus driver?

Nearby North Dakota cities with lower median rent include West Fargo ($1,395/mo), Bismarck ($1,374/mo), Bismarck ($1,372/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 Mandan, ND. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.