Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Albany, OR?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 39.5% of gross income.

Albany rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Oregon state estimate).

Albany median rent
$1,774/mo
Bus Driver salary (Oregon)
$53,893/yr
Rent as % of income
39.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,491, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,347/mo in rent. Albany's median rent of $1,774 exceeds that threshold by $427/mo, putting a bus driver salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bus driver works roughly 68.5 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 Oregon cities have lower median rent than Albany, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Wilsonville, OR
$1,773/mo (39.5% of income)
Rockcreek, OR
$1,772/mo (39.5% of income)
Happy Valley, OR
$1,772/mo (39.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Albany

View full rent data for Albany, OR

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Albany, OR?

Median rent in Albany is $1,774 a month. A typical bus driver in Oregon earns about $53,893 a year, which makes that rent 39.5% 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 Albany?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Oregon (~$53,893/yr) supports up to $1,347 a month in rent. Albany's current median rent is $1,774/mo, which is $427/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $26 an hour, a bus driver in Oregon works roughly 68.5 hours a month to cover Albany's median rent of $1,774.

Where is rent cheaper than Albany for a bus driver?

Nearby Oregon cities with lower median rent include Wilsonville ($1,773/mo), Rockcreek ($1,772/mo), Happy Valley ($1,772/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bus driver salary.

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