Can A Pharmacist Afford Rent in Laguna Beach, CA?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 38.1% of gross income.

Laguna Beach rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (California state estimate).

Laguna Beach median rent
$4,980/mo
Pharmacist salary (California)
$156,645/yr
Rent as % of income
38.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $13,054, and the 30% rule supports up to $3,916/mo in rent. Laguna Beach's median rent of $4,980 exceeds that threshold by $1,064/mo, putting a pharmacist salary into the rent-burdened range here. A pharmacist works roughly 66.1 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 Laguna Beach, which improves the affordability math on a pharmacist salary:

Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
$4,944/mo (37.9% of income)
Saratoga, CA
$4,943/mo (37.9% of income)
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
$4,942/mo (37.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Laguna Beach

View full rent data for Laguna Beach, CA

Frequently asked questions

Can a pharmacist afford rent in Laguna Beach, CA?

Median rent in Laguna Beach is $4,980 a month. A typical pharmacist in California earns about $156,645 a year, which makes that rent 38.1% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a pharmacist afford in Laguna Beach?

Using the 30% rule, a pharmacist salary in California (~$156,645/yr) supports up to $3,916 a month in rent. Laguna Beach's current median rent is $4,980/mo, which is $1,064/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $75 an hour, a pharmacist in California works roughly 66.1 hours a month to cover Laguna Beach's median rent of $4,980.

Where is rent cheaper than Laguna Beach for a pharmacist?

Nearby California cities with lower median rent include Rancho Palos Verdes ($4,944/mo), Saratoga ($4,943/mo), Rancho Palos Verdes ($4,942/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 Laguna Beach, CA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.