Can A Pharmacist Afford Rent in Laguna Beach, CA?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 38.8% of gross income.

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

Laguna Beach median rent
$5,068/mo
Pharmacist salary (California)
$156,645/yr
Rent as % of income
38.8%
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 $5,068 exceeds that threshold by $1,152/mo, putting a pharmacist salary into the rent-burdened range here. A pharmacist works roughly 67.3 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:

Tiburon, CA
$5,059/mo (38.8% of income)
Topanga, CA
$5,025/mo (38.5% of income)
Westlake Village, CA
$5,001/mo (38.3% 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 $5,068 a month. A typical pharmacist in California earns about $156,645 a year, which makes that rent 38.8% 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 $5,068/mo, which is $1,152/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 67.3 hours a month to cover Laguna Beach's median rent of $5,068.

Where is rent cheaper than Laguna Beach for a pharmacist?

Nearby California cities with lower median rent include Tiburon ($5,059/mo), Topanga ($5,025/mo), Westlake Village ($5,001/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.