Can A Pharmacist Afford Rent in Arcata, CA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 12.4% of gross income.

Arcata rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (California state estimate).

Arcata median rent
$1,615/mo
Pharmacist salary (California)
$156,645/yr
Rent as % of income
12.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $13,054, and the 30% rule supports up to $3,916/mo in rent. Arcata's median rent of $1,615 leaves roughly $2,301/mo of headroom under that threshold. A pharmacist works roughly 21.4 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 California cities have lower median rent than Arcata, which improves the affordability math on a pharmacist salary:

Paradise, CA
$1,614/mo (12.4% of income)
Marysville, CA
$1,612/mo (12.3% of income)
Placerville, CA
$1,611/mo (12.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Arcata

View full rent data for Arcata, CA

Frequently asked questions

Can a pharmacist afford rent in Arcata, CA?

Median rent in Arcata is $1,615 a month. A typical pharmacist in California earns about $156,645 a year, which makes that rent 12.4% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a pharmacist afford in Arcata?

Using the 30% rule, a pharmacist salary in California (~$156,645/yr) supports up to $3,916 a month in rent. Arcata's current median rent is $1,615/mo, which leaves a $2,301/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $75 an hour, a pharmacist in California works roughly 21.4 hours a month to cover Arcata's median rent of $1,615.

Where is rent cheaper than Arcata for a pharmacist?

Nearby California cities with lower median rent include Paradise ($1,614/mo), Marysville ($1,612/mo), Placerville ($1,611/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a pharmacist salary.

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