Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Bend, OR?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 51.2% of gross income.
Bend rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Oregon state estimate).
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 Bend, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:
Compare with full rent data for Bend
View full rent data for Bend, OR →Frequently asked questions
Can a bus driver afford rent in Bend, OR?
Median rent in Bend is $2,300 a month. A typical bus driver in Oregon earns about $53,893 a year, which makes that rent 51.2% 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 Bend?
Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Oregon (~$53,893/yr) supports up to $1,347 a month in rent. Bend's current median rent is $2,300/mo, which is $953/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a bus driver work to cover rent in Bend?
At an hourly equivalent of about $26 an hour, a bus driver in Oregon works roughly 88.8 hours a month to cover Bend's median rent of $2,300.
Where is rent cheaper than Bend for a bus driver?
Nearby Oregon cities with lower median rent include West Linn ($2,296/mo), Sandy ($2,295/mo), West Linn ($2,288/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bus driver salary.