Can A Pharmacist Afford Rent in El Centro, CA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 12.5% of gross income.

El Centro rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (California state estimate).

El Centro median rent
$1,631/mo
Pharmacist salary (California)
$156,645/yr
Rent as % of income
12.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $13,054, and the 30% rule supports up to $3,916/mo in rent. El Centro's median rent of $1,631 leaves roughly $2,285/mo of headroom under that threshold. A pharmacist works roughly 21.7 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 El Centro, which improves the affordability math on a pharmacist salary:

Arcata, CA
$1,630/mo (12.5% of income)
Marysville, CA
$1,630/mo (12.5% of income)
Placerville, CA
$1,629/mo (12.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for El Centro

View full rent data for El Centro, CA

Frequently asked questions

Can a pharmacist afford rent in El Centro, CA?

Median rent in El Centro is $1,631 a month. A typical pharmacist in California earns about $156,645 a year, which makes that rent 12.5% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a pharmacist afford in El Centro?

Using the 30% rule, a pharmacist salary in California (~$156,645/yr) supports up to $3,916 a month in rent. El Centro's current median rent is $1,631/mo, which leaves a $2,285/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $75 an hour, a pharmacist in California works roughly 21.7 hours a month to cover El Centro's median rent of $1,631.

Where is rent cheaper than El Centro for a pharmacist?

Nearby California cities with lower median rent include Arcata ($1,630/mo), Marysville ($1,630/mo), Placerville ($1,629/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 El Centro, CA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.