Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Elmira, NY?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 23.5% of gross income.

Elmira rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (New York state estimate).

Elmira median rent
$1,158/mo
Bus Driver salary (New York)
$59,075/yr
Rent as % of income
23.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,923, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,477/mo in rent. Elmira's median rent of $1,158 leaves roughly $319/mo of headroom under that threshold. A bus driver works roughly 40.8 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 York cities have lower median rent than Elmira, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Cortland, NY
$1,152/mo (23.4% of income)
North Tonawanda, NY
$1,152/mo (23.4% of income)
North Tonawanda, NY
$1,152/mo (23.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Elmira

View full rent data for Elmira, NY

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Elmira, NY?

Median rent in Elmira is $1,158 a month. A typical bus driver in New York earns about $59,075 a year, which makes that rent 23.5% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a bus driver afford in Elmira?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in New York (~$59,075/yr) supports up to $1,477 a month in rent. Elmira's current median rent is $1,158/mo, which leaves a $319/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a bus driver in New York works roughly 40.8 hours a month to cover Elmira's median rent of $1,158.

Where is rent cheaper than Elmira for a bus driver?

Nearby New York cities with lower median rent include Cortland ($1,152/mo), North Tonawanda ($1,152/mo), North Tonawanda ($1,152/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bus driver salary.

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