Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Oshkosh, WI?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 29.4% of gross income.

Oshkosh rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Wisconsin state estimate).

Oshkosh median rent
$1,208/mo
Bus Driver salary (Wisconsin)
$49,229/yr
Rent as % of income
29.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,102, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,231/mo in rent. Oshkosh's median rent of $1,208 leaves roughly $23/mo of headroom under that threshold. A bus driver works roughly 51 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 Wisconsin cities have lower median rent than Oshkosh, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Chippewa Falls, WI
$1,207/mo (29.4% of income)
Menasha, WI
$1,206/mo (29.4% of income)
Appleton, WI
$1,206/mo (29.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Oshkosh

View full rent data for Oshkosh, WI

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Oshkosh, WI?

Median rent in Oshkosh is $1,208 a month. A typical bus driver in Wisconsin earns about $49,229 a year, which makes that rent 29.4% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a bus driver afford in Oshkosh?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Wisconsin (~$49,229/yr) supports up to $1,231 a month in rent. Oshkosh's current median rent is $1,208/mo, which leaves a $23/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $24 an hour, a bus driver in Wisconsin works roughly 51 hours a month to cover Oshkosh's median rent of $1,208.

Where is rent cheaper than Oshkosh for a bus driver?

Nearby Wisconsin cities with lower median rent include Chippewa Falls ($1,207/mo), Menasha ($1,206/mo), Appleton ($1,206/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bus driver salary.

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