Can A Pharmacist Afford Rent in Costa Mesa, CA?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 24% of gross income.
Costa Mesa rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (California state estimate).
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 Costa Mesa, which improves the affordability math on a pharmacist salary:
Compare with full rent data for Costa Mesa
View full rent data for Costa Mesa, CA →Frequently asked questions
Can a pharmacist afford rent in Costa Mesa, CA?
Median rent in Costa Mesa is $3,136 a month. A typical pharmacist in California earns about $156,645 a year, which makes that rent 24% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a pharmacist afford in Costa Mesa?
Using the 30% rule, a pharmacist salary in California (~$156,645/yr) supports up to $3,916 a month in rent. Costa Mesa's current median rent is $3,136/mo, which leaves a $780/mo buffer.
How many hours does a pharmacist work to cover rent in Costa Mesa?
At an hourly equivalent of about $75 an hour, a pharmacist in California works roughly 41.6 hours a month to cover Costa Mesa's median rent of $3,136.
Where is rent cheaper than Costa Mesa for a pharmacist?
Nearby California cities with lower median rent include Pleasanton ($3,135/mo), La Crescenta-Montrose ($3,134/mo), Lomita ($3,134/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a pharmacist salary.