Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Port Arthur, TX?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 29.7% of gross income.

Port Arthur rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Texas state estimate).

Port Arthur median rent
$1,270/mo
Bus Driver salary (Texas)
$51,302/yr
Rent as % of income
29.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,275, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,283/mo in rent. Port Arthur's median rent of $1,270 leaves roughly $13/mo of headroom under that threshold. A bus driver works roughly 51.5 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 Port Arthur, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Athens, TX
$1,269/mo (29.7% of income)
Wichita Falls, TX
$1,269/mo (29.7% of income)
Jersey Village, TX
$1,269/mo (29.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Port Arthur

View full rent data for Port Arthur, TX

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Port Arthur, TX?

Median rent in Port Arthur is $1,270 a month. A typical bus driver in Texas earns about $51,302 a year, which makes that rent 29.7% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a bus driver afford in Port Arthur?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Texas (~$51,302/yr) supports up to $1,283 a month in rent. Port Arthur's current median rent is $1,270/mo, which leaves a $13/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $25 an hour, a bus driver in Texas works roughly 51.5 hours a month to cover Port Arthur's median rent of $1,270.

Where is rent cheaper than Port Arthur for a bus driver?

Nearby Texas cities with lower median rent include Athens ($1,269/mo), Wichita Falls ($1,269/mo), Jersey Village ($1,269/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 Port Arthur, TX. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.