Can A Truck Driver Afford Rent in Elk River, MN?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 43.3% of gross income.

Elk River rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Minnesota state estimate).

Elk River median rent
$2,129/mo
Truck Driver salary (Minnesota)
$58,978/yr
Rent as % of income
43.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,915, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,474/mo in rent. Elk River's median rent of $2,129 exceeds that threshold by $655/mo, putting a truck driver salary into the rent-burdened range here. A truck driver works roughly 75.1 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 Minnesota cities have lower median rent than Elk River, which improves the affordability math on a truck driver salary:

Maple Grove, MN
$2,119/mo (43.1% of income)
Blaine, MN
$2,112/mo (43% of income)
Maple Grove, MN
$2,111/mo (43% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Elk River

View full rent data for Elk River, MN

Frequently asked questions

Can a truck driver afford rent in Elk River, MN?

Median rent in Elk River is $2,129 a month. A typical truck driver in Minnesota earns about $58,978 a year, which makes that rent 43.3% 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 Elk River?

Using the 30% rule, a truck driver salary in Minnesota (~$58,978/yr) supports up to $1,474 a month in rent. Elk River's current median rent is $2,129/mo, which is $655/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a truck driver work to cover rent in Elk River?

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a truck driver in Minnesota works roughly 75.1 hours a month to cover Elk River's median rent of $2,129.

Where is rent cheaper than Elk River for a truck driver?

Nearby Minnesota cities with lower median rent include Maple Grove ($2,119/mo), Blaine ($2,112/mo), Maple Grove ($2,111/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a truck driver salary.

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