Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Issaquah, WA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 60.6% of gross income.

Issaquah rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Washington state estimate).

Issaquah median rent
$2,929/mo
Bus Driver salary (Washington)
$58,038/yr
Rent as % of income
60.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,837, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,451/mo in rent. Issaquah's median rent of $2,929 exceeds that threshold by $1,478/mo, putting a bus driver salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bus driver works roughly 105 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 Washington cities have lower median rent than Issaquah, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Maple Valley, WA
$2,916/mo (60.3% of income)
Maple Valley, WA
$2,914/mo (60.3% of income)
Bainbridge Island, WA
$2,912/mo (60.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Issaquah

View full rent data for Issaquah, WA →

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Issaquah, WA?

Median rent in Issaquah is $2,929 a month. A typical bus driver in Washington earns about $58,038 a year, which makes that rent 60.6% 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 Issaquah?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Washington (~$58,038/yr) supports up to $1,451 a month in rent. Issaquah's current median rent is $2,929/mo, which is $1,478/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a bus driver in Washington works roughly 105 hours a month to cover Issaquah's median rent of $2,929.

Where is rent cheaper than Issaquah for a bus driver?

Nearby Washington cities with lower median rent include Maple Valley ($2,916/mo), Maple Valley ($2,914/mo), Bainbridge Island ($2,912/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bus driver salary.

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