Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Wisconsin Rapids, WI?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 26.7% of gross income.

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

Wisconsin Rapids median rent
$1,095/mo
Bus Driver salary (Wisconsin)
$49,229/yr
Rent as % of income
26.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,102, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,231/mo in rent. Wisconsin Rapids's median rent of $1,095 leaves roughly $136/mo of headroom under that threshold. A bus driver works roughly 46.3 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 Wisconsin Rapids, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

West Bend, WI
$1,094/mo (26.7% of income)
La Crosse, WI
$1,087/mo (26.5% of income)
Beloit, WI
$1,087/mo (26.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Wisconsin Rapids

View full rent data for Wisconsin Rapids, WI

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Wisconsin Rapids, WI?

Median rent in Wisconsin Rapids is $1,095 a month. A typical bus driver in Wisconsin earns about $49,229 a year, which makes that rent 26.7% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a bus driver afford in Wisconsin Rapids?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Wisconsin (~$49,229/yr) supports up to $1,231 a month in rent. Wisconsin Rapids's current median rent is $1,095/mo, which leaves a $136/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $24 an hour, a bus driver in Wisconsin works roughly 46.3 hours a month to cover Wisconsin Rapids's median rent of $1,095.

Where is rent cheaper than Wisconsin Rapids for a bus driver?

Nearby Wisconsin cities with lower median rent include West Bend ($1,094/mo), La Crosse ($1,087/mo), Beloit ($1,087/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 Wisconsin Rapids, WI. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.