Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Aberdeen, SD?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 27.6% of gross income.

Aberdeen rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (South Dakota state estimate).

Aberdeen median rent
$1,049/mo
Bus Driver salary (South Dakota)
$45,602/yr
Rent as % of income
27.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,800, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,140/mo in rent. Aberdeen's median rent of $1,049 leaves roughly $91/mo of headroom under that threshold. A bus driver works roughly 47.8 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 South Dakota cities have lower median rent than Aberdeen, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Vermillion, SD
$1,045/mo (27.5% of income)
Brandon, SD
$1,035/mo (27.2% of income)
Mitchell, SD
$1,021/mo (26.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Aberdeen

View full rent data for Aberdeen, SD

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Aberdeen, SD?

Median rent in Aberdeen is $1,049 a month. A typical bus driver in South Dakota earns about $45,602 a year, which makes that rent 27.6% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a bus driver afford in Aberdeen?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in South Dakota (~$45,602/yr) supports up to $1,140 a month in rent. Aberdeen's current median rent is $1,049/mo, which leaves a $91/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $22 an hour, a bus driver in South Dakota works roughly 47.8 hours a month to cover Aberdeen's median rent of $1,049.

Where is rent cheaper than Aberdeen for a bus driver?

Nearby South Dakota cities with lower median rent include Vermillion ($1,045/mo), Brandon ($1,035/mo), Mitchell ($1,021/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bus driver salary.

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