Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in South Milwaukee, WI?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 28% of gross income.

South Milwaukee rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Wisconsin state estimate).

South Milwaukee median rent
$1,148/mo
Bus Driver salary (Wisconsin)
$49,229/yr
Rent as % of income
28%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,102, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,231/mo in rent. South Milwaukee's median rent of $1,148 leaves roughly $83/mo of headroom under that threshold. A bus driver works roughly 48.5 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 South Milwaukee, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Janesville, WI
$1,147/mo (28% of income)
Janesville, WI
$1,147/mo (28% of income)
Neenah, WI
$1,146/mo (27.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for South Milwaukee

View full rent data for South Milwaukee, WI →

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in South Milwaukee, WI?

Median rent in South Milwaukee is $1,148 a month. A typical bus driver in Wisconsin earns about $49,229 a year, which makes that rent 28% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a bus driver afford in South Milwaukee?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Wisconsin (~$49,229/yr) supports up to $1,231 a month in rent. South Milwaukee's current median rent is $1,148/mo, which leaves a $83/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $24 an hour, a bus driver in Wisconsin works roughly 48.5 hours a month to cover South Milwaukee's median rent of $1,148.

Where is rent cheaper than South Milwaukee for a bus driver?

Nearby Wisconsin cities with lower median rent include Janesville ($1,147/mo), Janesville ($1,147/mo), Neenah ($1,146/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 South Milwaukee, WI. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.