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

Stretched but workable — rent takes 30.6% of gross income.

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

Moses Lake median rent
$1,481/mo
Bus Driver salary (Washington)
$58,038/yr
Rent as % of income
30.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,837, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,451/mo in rent. Moses Lake's median rent of $1,481 exceeds that threshold by $30/mo, putting a bus driver salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bus driver works roughly 53.1 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 Moses Lake, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Spokane Valley, WA
$1,480/mo (30.6% of income)
Centralia, WA
$1,480/mo (30.6% of income)
Chehalis, WA
$1,480/mo (30.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Moses Lake

View full rent data for Moses Lake, WA

Frequently asked questions

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

Median rent in Moses Lake is $1,481 a month. A typical bus driver in Washington earns about $58,038 a year, which makes that rent 30.6% 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 Moses Lake?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Washington (~$58,038/yr) supports up to $1,451 a month in rent. Moses Lake's current median rent is $1,481/mo, which is $30/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a bus driver in Washington works roughly 53.1 hours a month to cover Moses Lake's median rent of $1,481.

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

Nearby Washington cities with lower median rent include Spokane Valley ($1,480/mo), Centralia ($1,480/mo), Chehalis ($1,480/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 Moses Lake, WA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.