Can A Truck Driver Afford Rent in Box Elder, SD?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 37.4% of gross income.

Box Elder rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (South Dakota state estimate).

Box Elder median rent
$1,557/mo
Truck Driver salary (South Dakota)
$49,905/yr
Rent as % of income
37.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,159, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,248/mo in rent. Box Elder's median rent of $1,557 exceeds that threshold by $309/mo, putting a truck driver salary into the rent-burdened range here. A truck driver works roughly 64.9 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 South Dakota cities have lower median rent than Box Elder, which improves the affordability math on a truck driver salary:

Harrisburg, SD
$1,494/mo (35.9% of income)
Harrisburg, SD
$1,453/mo (34.9% of income)
Harrisburg, SD
$1,452/mo (34.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Box Elder

View full rent data for Box Elder, SD

Frequently asked questions

Can a truck driver afford rent in Box Elder, SD?

Median rent in Box Elder is $1,557 a month. A typical truck driver in South Dakota earns about $49,905 a year, which makes that rent 37.4% 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 Box Elder?

Using the 30% rule, a truck driver salary in South Dakota (~$49,905/yr) supports up to $1,248 a month in rent. Box Elder's current median rent is $1,557/mo, which is $309/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $24 an hour, a truck driver in South Dakota works roughly 64.9 hours a month to cover Box Elder's median rent of $1,557.

Where is rent cheaper than Box Elder for a truck driver?

Nearby South Dakota cities with lower median rent include Harrisburg ($1,494/mo), Harrisburg ($1,453/mo), Harrisburg ($1,452/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a truck driver salary.

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