Can A Pharmacist Afford Rent in Tempe, AZ?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 15.5% of gross income.

Tempe rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Arizona state estimate).

Tempe median rent
$1,667/mo
Pharmacist salary (Arizona)
$128,768/yr
Rent as % of income
15.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $10,731, and the 30% rule supports up to $3,219/mo in rent. Tempe's median rent of $1,667 leaves roughly $1,552/mo of headroom under that threshold. A pharmacist works roughly 26.9 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a pharmacist salary

Pharmacist pay covers comfortable rent in nearly every US city. At the national-average pharmacist salary, the 30% rule supports about $3,319 a month in rent — above median rent in all but a handful of high-cost coastal metros.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Arizona cities have lower median rent than Tempe, which improves the affordability math on a pharmacist salary:

Surprise, AZ
$1,656/mo (15.4% of income)
Buckeye, AZ
$1,654/mo (15.4% of income)
Casa Grande, AZ
$1,654/mo (15.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Tempe

View full rent data for Tempe, AZ

Frequently asked questions

Can a pharmacist afford rent in Tempe, AZ?

Median rent in Tempe is $1,667 a month. A typical pharmacist in Arizona earns about $128,768 a year, which makes that rent 15.5% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a pharmacist afford in Tempe?

Using the 30% rule, a pharmacist salary in Arizona (~$128,768/yr) supports up to $3,219 a month in rent. Tempe's current median rent is $1,667/mo, which leaves a $1,552/mo buffer.

How many hours does a pharmacist work to cover rent in Tempe?

At an hourly equivalent of about $62 an hour, a pharmacist in Arizona works roughly 26.9 hours a month to cover Tempe's median rent of $1,667.

Where is rent cheaper than Tempe for a pharmacist?

Nearby Arizona cities with lower median rent include Surprise ($1,656/mo), Buckeye ($1,654/mo), Casa Grande ($1,654/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a pharmacist salary.

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