Can A Truck Driver Afford Rent in San Rafael, CA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 53.7% of gross income.

San Rafael rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (California state estimate).

San Rafael median rent
$2,992/mo
Truck Driver salary (California)
$66,918/yr
Rent as % of income
53.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,577, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,673/mo in rent. San Rafael's median rent of $2,992 exceeds that threshold by $1,319/mo, putting a truck driver salary into the rent-burdened range here. A truck driver works roughly 93 hours a month to cover that rent.

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 San Rafael, which improves the affordability math on a truck driver salary:

San Bruno, CA
$2,991/mo (53.6% of income)
Huntington Beach, CA
$2,991/mo (53.6% of income)
Livermore, CA
$2,991/mo (53.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for San Rafael

View full rent data for San Rafael, CA

Frequently asked questions

Can a truck driver afford rent in San Rafael, CA?

Median rent in San Rafael is $2,992 a month. A typical truck driver in California earns about $66,918 a year, which makes that rent 53.7% 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 San Rafael?

Using the 30% rule, a truck driver salary in California (~$66,918/yr) supports up to $1,673 a month in rent. San Rafael's current median rent is $2,992/mo, which is $1,319/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a truck driver work to cover rent in San Rafael?

At an hourly equivalent of about $32 an hour, a truck driver in California works roughly 93 hours a month to cover San Rafael's median rent of $2,992.

Where is rent cheaper than San Rafael for a truck driver?

Nearby California cities with lower median rent include San Bruno ($2,991/mo), Huntington Beach ($2,991/mo), Livermore ($2,991/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a truck driver salary.

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