Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in El Paso, TX?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 35.6% of gross income.

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

El Paso median rent
$1,521/mo
Bus Driver salary (Texas)
$51,302/yr
Rent as % of income
35.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,275, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,283/mo in rent. El Paso's median rent of $1,521 exceeds that threshold by $238/mo, putting a bus driver salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bus driver works roughly 61.7 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 El Paso, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

White Settlement, TX
$1,520/mo (35.6% of income)
Baytown, TX
$1,520/mo (35.6% of income)
Addison, TX
$1,520/mo (35.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for El Paso

View full rent data for El Paso, TX

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in El Paso, TX?

Median rent in El Paso is $1,521 a month. A typical bus driver in Texas earns about $51,302 a year, which makes that rent 35.6% 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 El Paso?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Texas (~$51,302/yr) supports up to $1,283 a month in rent. El Paso's current median rent is $1,521/mo, which is $238/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $25 an hour, a bus driver in Texas works roughly 61.7 hours a month to cover El Paso's median rent of $1,521.

Where is rent cheaper than El Paso for a bus driver?

Nearby Texas cities with lower median rent include White Settlement ($1,520/mo), Baytown ($1,520/mo), Addison ($1,520/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 El Paso, TX. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.