Can A Truck Driver Afford Rent in Saint Paul, MN?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 30.1% of gross income.

Saint Paul rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Minnesota state estimate).

Saint Paul median rent
$1,480/mo
Truck Driver salary (Minnesota)
$58,978/yr
Rent as % of income
30.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,915, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,474/mo in rent. Saint Paul's median rent of $1,480 exceeds that threshold by $6/mo, putting a truck driver salary into the rent-burdened range here. A truck driver works roughly 52.2 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 Saint Paul, which improves the affordability math on a truck driver salary:

Maplewood, MN
$1,479/mo (30.1% of income)
Burnsville, MN
$1,477/mo (30.1% of income)
Duluth, MN
$1,477/mo (30.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Saint Paul

View full rent data for Saint Paul, MN

Frequently asked questions

Can a truck driver afford rent in Saint Paul, MN?

Median rent in Saint Paul is $1,480 a month. A typical truck driver in Minnesota earns about $58,978 a year, which makes that rent 30.1% 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 Saint Paul?

Using the 30% rule, a truck driver salary in Minnesota (~$58,978/yr) supports up to $1,474 a month in rent. Saint Paul's current median rent is $1,480/mo, which is $6/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a truck driver work to cover rent in Saint Paul?

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a truck driver in Minnesota works roughly 52.2 hours a month to cover Saint Paul's median rent of $1,480.

Where is rent cheaper than Saint Paul for a truck driver?

Nearby Minnesota cities with lower median rent include Maplewood ($1,479/mo), Burnsville ($1,477/mo), Duluth ($1,477/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 Saint Paul, MN. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.