Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Chattanooga, TN?
Stretched but workable — rent takes 37.7% of gross income.
Chattanooga rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Tennessee 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 Tennessee cities have lower median rent than Chattanooga, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:
Compare with full rent data for Chattanooga
View full rent data for Chattanooga, TN →Frequently asked questions
Can a bus driver afford rent in Chattanooga, TN?
Median rent in Chattanooga is $1,498 a month. A typical bus driver in Tennessee earns about $47,674 a year, which makes that rent 37.7% 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 Chattanooga?
Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Tennessee (~$47,674/yr) supports up to $1,192 a month in rent. Chattanooga's current median rent is $1,498/mo, which is $306/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a bus driver work to cover rent in Chattanooga?
At an hourly equivalent of about $23 an hour, a bus driver in Tennessee works roughly 65.4 hours a month to cover Chattanooga's median rent of $1,498.
Where is rent cheaper than Chattanooga for a bus driver?
Nearby Tennessee cities with lower median rent include Morristown ($1,495/mo), Morristown ($1,494/mo), Nashville ($1,493/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bus driver salary.