Can A Truck Driver Afford Rent in Santa Monica, CA?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 63.1% of gross income.
Santa Monica rent: June 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 Santa Monica, which improves the affordability math on a truck driver salary:
Compare with full rent data for Santa Monica
View full rent data for Santa Monica, CA →Frequently asked questions
Can a truck driver afford rent in Santa Monica, CA?
Median rent in Santa Monica is $3,517 a month. A typical truck driver in California earns about $66,918 a year, which makes that rent 63.1% 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 Santa Monica?
Using the 30% rule, a truck driver salary in California (~$66,918/yr) supports up to $1,673 a month in rent. Santa Monica's current median rent is $3,517/mo, which is $1,844/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a truck driver work to cover rent in Santa Monica?
At an hourly equivalent of about $32 an hour, a truck driver in California works roughly 109.3 hours a month to cover Santa Monica's median rent of $3,517.
Where is rent cheaper than Santa Monica for a truck driver?
Nearby California cities with lower median rent include Granite Bay ($3,516/mo), Marina ($3,513/mo), Morgan Hill ($3,512/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a truck driver salary.