Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Liberty Lake, WA?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 37.9% of gross income.

Liberty Lake rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Washington state estimate).

Liberty Lake median rent
$1,834/mo
Bus Driver salary (Washington)
$58,038/yr
Rent as % of income
37.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,837, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,451/mo in rent. Liberty Lake's median rent of $1,834 exceeds that threshold by $383/mo, putting a bus driver salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bus driver works roughly 65.7 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 Washington cities have lower median rent than Liberty Lake, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Bremerton, WA
$1,832/mo (37.9% of income)
Steilacoom, WA
$1,832/mo (37.9% of income)
Burien, WA
$1,832/mo (37.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Liberty Lake

View full rent data for Liberty Lake, WA

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Liberty Lake, WA?

Median rent in Liberty Lake is $1,834 a month. A typical bus driver in Washington earns about $58,038 a year, which makes that rent 37.9% 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 Liberty Lake?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Washington (~$58,038/yr) supports up to $1,451 a month in rent. Liberty Lake's current median rent is $1,834/mo, which is $383/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a bus driver in Washington works roughly 65.7 hours a month to cover Liberty Lake's median rent of $1,834.

Where is rent cheaper than Liberty Lake for a bus driver?

Nearby Washington cities with lower median rent include Bremerton ($1,832/mo), Steilacoom ($1,832/mo), Burien ($1,832/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 Liberty Lake, WA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.