Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Amarillo, TX?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 29.9% of gross income.

Amarillo rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Texas state estimate).

Amarillo median rent
$1,278/mo
Bus Driver salary (Texas)
$51,302/yr
Rent as % of income
29.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,275, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,283/mo in rent. Amarillo's median rent of $1,278 leaves roughly $5/mo of headroom under that threshold. A bus driver works roughly 51.8 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 Texas cities have lower median rent than Amarillo, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Huntsville, TX
$1,277/mo (29.9% of income)
Aubrey, TX
$1,276/mo (29.8% of income)
Irving, TX
$1,276/mo (29.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Amarillo

View full rent data for Amarillo, TX

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Amarillo, TX?

Median rent in Amarillo is $1,278 a month. A typical bus driver in Texas earns about $51,302 a year, which makes that rent 29.9% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a bus driver afford in Amarillo?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Texas (~$51,302/yr) supports up to $1,283 a month in rent. Amarillo's current median rent is $1,278/mo, which leaves a $5/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $25 an hour, a bus driver in Texas works roughly 51.8 hours a month to cover Amarillo's median rent of $1,278.

Where is rent cheaper than Amarillo for a bus driver?

Nearby Texas cities with lower median rent include Huntsville ($1,277/mo), Aubrey ($1,276/mo), Irving ($1,276/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bus driver salary.

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