Can A Truck Driver Afford Rent in Chester, PA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 27.8% of gross income.

Chester rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Pennsylvania state estimate).

Chester median rent
$1,299/mo
Truck Driver salary (Pennsylvania)
$56,143/yr
Rent as % of income
27.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,679, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,404/mo in rent. Chester's median rent of $1,299 leaves roughly $105/mo of headroom under that threshold. A truck driver works roughly 48.1 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 Pennsylvania cities have lower median rent than Chester, which improves the affordability math on a truck driver salary:

Ephrata, PA
$1,297/mo (27.7% of income)
Ephrata, PA
$1,297/mo (27.7% of income)
Aliquippa, PA
$1,296/mo (27.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Chester

View full rent data for Chester, PA

Frequently asked questions

Can a truck driver afford rent in Chester, PA?

Median rent in Chester is $1,299 a month. A typical truck driver in Pennsylvania earns about $56,143 a year, which makes that rent 27.8% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a truck driver afford in Chester?

Using the 30% rule, a truck driver salary in Pennsylvania (~$56,143/yr) supports up to $1,404 a month in rent. Chester's current median rent is $1,299/mo, which leaves a $105/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a truck driver in Pennsylvania works roughly 48.1 hours a month to cover Chester's median rent of $1,299.

Where is rent cheaper than Chester for a truck driver?

Nearby Pennsylvania cities with lower median rent include Ephrata ($1,297/mo), Ephrata ($1,297/mo), Aliquippa ($1,296/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a truck driver salary.

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