Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Odessa, TX?
Stretched but workable — rent takes 36% of gross income.
Odessa rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Texas 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 Texas cities have lower median rent than Odessa, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:
Compare with full rent data for Odessa
View full rent data for Odessa, TX →Frequently asked questions
Can a bus driver afford rent in Odessa, TX?
Median rent in Odessa is $1,537 a month. A typical bus driver in Texas earns about $51,302 a year, which makes that rent 36% 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 Odessa?
Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Texas (~$51,302/yr) supports up to $1,283 a month in rent. Odessa's current median rent is $1,537/mo, which is $254/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a bus driver work to cover rent in Odessa?
At an hourly equivalent of about $25 an hour, a bus driver in Texas works roughly 62.3 hours a month to cover Odessa's median rent of $1,537.
Where is rent cheaper than Odessa for a bus driver?
Nearby Texas cities with lower median rent include Denton ($1,536/mo), Brownsville ($1,536/mo), Carrollton ($1,536/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bus driver salary.