Can A Truck Driver Afford Rent in Bismarck, ND?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 29.9% of gross income.

Bismarck rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (North Dakota state estimate).

Bismarck median rent
$1,372/mo
Truck Driver salary (North Dakota)
$55,009/yr
Rent as % of income
29.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,584, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,375/mo in rent. Bismarck's median rent of $1,372 leaves roughly $3/mo of headroom under that threshold. A truck driver works roughly 51.9 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 North Dakota cities have lower median rent than Bismarck, which improves the affordability math on a truck driver salary:

Williston, ND
$1,353/mo (29.5% of income)
West Fargo, ND
$1,350/mo (29.4% of income)
West Fargo, ND
$1,336/mo (29.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Bismarck

View full rent data for Bismarck, ND

Frequently asked questions

Can a truck driver afford rent in Bismarck, ND?

Median rent in Bismarck is $1,372 a month. A typical truck driver in North Dakota earns about $55,009 a year, which makes that rent 29.9% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a truck driver afford in Bismarck?

Using the 30% rule, a truck driver salary in North Dakota (~$55,009/yr) supports up to $1,375 a month in rent. Bismarck's current median rent is $1,372/mo, which leaves a $3/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $26 an hour, a truck driver in North Dakota works roughly 51.9 hours a month to cover Bismarck's median rent of $1,372.

Where is rent cheaper than Bismarck for a truck driver?

Nearby North Dakota cities with lower median rent include Williston ($1,353/mo), West Fargo ($1,350/mo), West Fargo ($1,336/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a truck driver salary.

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