Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Monroe, WA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 50.2% of gross income.

Monroe rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Washington state estimate).

Monroe median rent
$2,430/mo
Bus Driver salary (Washington)
$58,038/yr
Rent as % of income
50.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,837, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,451/mo in rent. Monroe's median rent of $2,430 exceeds that threshold by $979/mo, putting a bus driver salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bus driver works roughly 87.1 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 Monroe, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Gig Harbor, WA
$2,429/mo (50.2% of income)
Blaine, WA
$2,429/mo (50.2% of income)
Newcastle, WA
$2,428/mo (50.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Monroe

View full rent data for Monroe, WA

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Monroe, WA?

Median rent in Monroe is $2,430 a month. A typical bus driver in Washington earns about $58,038 a year, which makes that rent 50.2% 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 Monroe?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Washington (~$58,038/yr) supports up to $1,451 a month in rent. Monroe's current median rent is $2,430/mo, which is $979/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a bus driver in Washington works roughly 87.1 hours a month to cover Monroe's median rent of $2,430.

Where is rent cheaper than Monroe for a bus driver?

Nearby Washington cities with lower median rent include Gig Harbor ($2,429/mo), Blaine ($2,429/mo), Newcastle ($2,428/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 Monroe, WA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.