Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in South Kingstown, RI?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 57% of gross income.

South Kingstown rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Rhode Island state estimate).

South Kingstown median rent
$2,559/mo
Bus Driver salary (Rhode Island)
$53,893/yr
Rent as % of income
57%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,491, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,347/mo in rent. South Kingstown's median rent of $2,559 exceeds that threshold by $1,212/mo, putting a bus driver salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bus driver works roughly 98.8 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 Rhode Island cities have lower median rent than South Kingstown, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Portsmouth, RI
$2,558/mo (57% of income)
Coventry, RI
$2,554/mo (56.9% of income)
Coventry, RI
$2,549/mo (56.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for South Kingstown

View full rent data for South Kingstown, RI

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in South Kingstown, RI?

Median rent in South Kingstown is $2,559 a month. A typical bus driver in Rhode Island earns about $53,893 a year, which makes that rent 57% 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 South Kingstown?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Rhode Island (~$53,893/yr) supports up to $1,347 a month in rent. South Kingstown's current median rent is $2,559/mo, which is $1,212/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $26 an hour, a bus driver in Rhode Island works roughly 98.8 hours a month to cover South Kingstown's median rent of $2,559.

Where is rent cheaper than South Kingstown for a bus driver?

Nearby Rhode Island cities with lower median rent include Portsmouth ($2,558/mo), Coventry ($2,554/mo), Coventry ($2,549/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bus driver salary.

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