Can A Pharmacist Afford Rent in Imperial, CA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 16.5% of gross income.

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

Imperial median rent
$2,150/mo
Pharmacist salary (California)
$156,645/yr
Rent as % of income
16.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $13,054, and the 30% rule supports up to $3,916/mo in rent. Imperial's median rent of $2,150 leaves roughly $1,766/mo of headroom under that threshold. A pharmacist works roughly 28.5 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 Imperial, which improves the affordability math on a pharmacist salary:

Ceres, CA
$2,149/mo (16.5% of income)
Lake Arrowhead, CA
$2,148/mo (16.5% of income)
Ramona, CA
$2,148/mo (16.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Imperial

View full rent data for Imperial, CA

Frequently asked questions

Can a pharmacist afford rent in Imperial, CA?

Median rent in Imperial is $2,150 a month. A typical pharmacist in California earns about $156,645 a year, which makes that rent 16.5% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a pharmacist afford in Imperial?

Using the 30% rule, a pharmacist salary in California (~$156,645/yr) supports up to $3,916 a month in rent. Imperial's current median rent is $2,150/mo, which leaves a $1,766/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $75 an hour, a pharmacist in California works roughly 28.5 hours a month to cover Imperial's median rent of $2,150.

Where is rent cheaper than Imperial for a pharmacist?

Nearby California cities with lower median rent include Ceres ($2,149/mo), Lake Arrowhead ($2,148/mo), Ramona ($2,148/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 Imperial, CA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.