Can A Pharmacist Afford Rent in Lakewood, CA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 26% of gross income.

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

Lakewood median rent
$3,391/mo
Pharmacist salary (California)
$156,645/yr
Rent as % of income
26%
Gross monthly income works out to about $13,054, and the 30% rule supports up to $3,916/mo in rent. Lakewood's median rent of $3,391 leaves roughly $525/mo of headroom under that threshold. A pharmacist works roughly 45 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 Lakewood, which improves the affordability math on a pharmacist salary:

Claremont, CA
$3,390/mo (26% of income)
Arcadia, CA
$3,390/mo (26% of income)
Irvine, CA
$3,390/mo (26% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Lakewood

View full rent data for Lakewood, CA

Frequently asked questions

Can a pharmacist afford rent in Lakewood, CA?

Median rent in Lakewood is $3,391 a month. A typical pharmacist in California earns about $156,645 a year, which makes that rent 26% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a pharmacist afford in Lakewood?

Using the 30% rule, a pharmacist salary in California (~$156,645/yr) supports up to $3,916 a month in rent. Lakewood's current median rent is $3,391/mo, which leaves a $525/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $75 an hour, a pharmacist in California works roughly 45 hours a month to cover Lakewood's median rent of $3,391.

Where is rent cheaper than Lakewood for a pharmacist?

Nearby California cities with lower median rent include Claremont ($3,390/mo), Arcadia ($3,390/mo), Irvine ($3,390/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 Lakewood, CA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.