Can A Truck Driver Afford Rent in Kelso, WA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 29.3% of gross income.

Kelso rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Washington state estimate).

Kelso median rent
$1,553/mo
Truck Driver salary (Washington)
$63,515/yr
Rent as % of income
29.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,293, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,588/mo in rent. Kelso's median rent of $1,553 leaves roughly $35/mo of headroom under that threshold. A truck driver works roughly 50.9 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 Washington cities have lower median rent than Kelso, which improves the affordability math on a truck driver salary:

Moses Lake, WA
$1,552/mo (29.3% of income)
Moses Lake, WA
$1,552/mo (29.3% of income)
Moses Lake, WA
$1,552/mo (29.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Kelso

View full rent data for Kelso, WA

Frequently asked questions

Can a truck driver afford rent in Kelso, WA?

Median rent in Kelso is $1,553 a month. A typical truck driver in Washington earns about $63,515 a year, which makes that rent 29.3% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a truck driver afford in Kelso?

Using the 30% rule, a truck driver salary in Washington (~$63,515/yr) supports up to $1,588 a month in rent. Kelso's current median rent is $1,553/mo, which leaves a $35/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $31 an hour, a truck driver in Washington works roughly 50.9 hours a month to cover Kelso's median rent of $1,553.

Where is rent cheaper than Kelso for a truck driver?

Nearby Washington cities with lower median rent include Moses Lake ($1,552/mo), Moses Lake ($1,552/mo), Moses Lake ($1,552/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a truck driver salary.

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