Can A Truck Driver Afford Rent in Appleton, WI?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 26.4% of gross income.

Appleton rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Wisconsin state estimate).

Appleton median rent
$1,187/mo
Truck Driver salary (Wisconsin)
$53,875/yr
Rent as % of income
26.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,490, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,347/mo in rent. Appleton's median rent of $1,187 leaves roughly $160/mo of headroom under that threshold. A truck driver works roughly 45.8 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 Wisconsin cities have lower median rent than Appleton, which improves the affordability math on a truck driver salary:

Janesville, WI
$1,186/mo (26.4% of income)
Stevens Point, WI
$1,186/mo (26.4% of income)
Fond du Lac, WI
$1,186/mo (26.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Appleton

View full rent data for Appleton, WI

Frequently asked questions

Can a truck driver afford rent in Appleton, WI?

Median rent in Appleton is $1,187 a month. A typical truck driver in Wisconsin earns about $53,875 a year, which makes that rent 26.4% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a truck driver afford in Appleton?

Using the 30% rule, a truck driver salary in Wisconsin (~$53,875/yr) supports up to $1,347 a month in rent. Appleton's current median rent is $1,187/mo, which leaves a $160/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $26 an hour, a truck driver in Wisconsin works roughly 45.8 hours a month to cover Appleton's median rent of $1,187.

Where is rent cheaper than Appleton for a truck driver?

Nearby Wisconsin cities with lower median rent include Janesville ($1,186/mo), Stevens Point ($1,186/mo), Fond du Lac ($1,186/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a truck driver salary.

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