Can A Truck Driver Afford Rent in Tea, SD?
Stretched but workable — rent takes 30.2% of gross income.
Tea rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (South Dakota state estimate).
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 Tea, which improves the affordability math on a truck driver salary:
Compare with full rent data for Tea
View full rent data for Tea, SD →Frequently asked questions
Can a truck driver afford rent in Tea, SD?
Median rent in Tea is $1,257 a month. A typical truck driver in South Dakota earns about $49,905 a year, which makes that rent 30.2% 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 Tea?
Using the 30% rule, a truck driver salary in South Dakota (~$49,905/yr) supports up to $1,248 a month in rent. Tea's current median rent is $1,257/mo, which is $9/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a truck driver work to cover rent in Tea?
At an hourly equivalent of about $24 an hour, a truck driver in South Dakota works roughly 52.4 hours a month to cover Tea's median rent of $1,257.
Where is rent cheaper than Tea for a truck driver?
Nearby South Dakota cities with lower median rent include Rapid City ($1,256/mo), Vermillion ($1,250/mo), Sioux Falls ($1,247/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a truck driver salary.