Can A Truck Driver Afford Rent in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 97.6% of gross income.
Carmel-by-the-Sea rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (California state estimate).
About rent and a truck driver salary
Truck driver pay covers comfortable rent in most lower- and mid-cost US metros and stretches thin in the highest-cost ones. Because many drivers can base anywhere along their route, the home-city rent decision has an outsized effect on take-home. At the national-average driver salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,418 a month in rent. The per-city pages show which markets keep rent within that range and which push it out of reach.
Cheaper rent nearby
These California cities have lower median rent than Carmel-by-the-Sea, which improves the affordability math on a truck driver salary:
Compare with full rent data for Carmel-by-the-Sea
View full rent data for Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA →Frequently asked questions
Can a truck driver afford rent in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA?
Median rent in Carmel-by-the-Sea is $5,443 a month. A typical truck driver in California earns about $66,918 a year, which makes that rent 97.6% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.
How much rent can a truck driver afford in Carmel-by-the-Sea?
Using the 30% rule, a truck driver salary in California (~$66,918/yr) supports up to $1,673 a month in rent. Carmel-by-the-Sea's current median rent is $5,443/mo, which is $3,770/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a truck driver work to cover rent in Carmel-by-the-Sea?
At an hourly equivalent of about $32 an hour, a truck driver in California works roughly 169.2 hours a month to cover Carmel-by-the-Sea's median rent of $5,443.
Where is rent cheaper than Carmel-by-the-Sea for a truck driver?
Nearby California cities with lower median rent include Coronado ($5,440/mo), Tiburon ($5,436/mo), Tiburon ($5,432/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a truck driver salary.