Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Union City, NJ?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 50.1% of gross income.

Union City rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (New Jersey state estimate).

Union City median rent
$2,421/mo
Bus Driver salary (New Jersey)
$58,038/yr
Rent as % of income
50.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,837, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,451/mo in rent. Union City's median rent of $2,421 exceeds that threshold by $970/mo, putting a bus driver salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bus driver works roughly 86.8 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 New Jersey cities have lower median rent than Union City, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

South Amboy, NJ
$2,420/mo (50% of income)
Caldwell, NJ
$2,419/mo (50% of income)
Clifton, NJ
$2,418/mo (50% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Union City

View full rent data for Union City, NJ

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Union City, NJ?

Median rent in Union City is $2,421 a month. A typical bus driver in New Jersey earns about $58,038 a year, which makes that rent 50.1% 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 Union City?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in New Jersey (~$58,038/yr) supports up to $1,451 a month in rent. Union City's current median rent is $2,421/mo, which is $970/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a bus driver in New Jersey works roughly 86.8 hours a month to cover Union City's median rent of $2,421.

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

Nearby New Jersey cities with lower median rent include South Amboy ($2,420/mo), Caldwell ($2,419/mo), Clifton ($2,418/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bus driver salary.

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