Can A Pharmacist Afford Rent in Modesto, CA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 15.4% of gross income.

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

Modesto median rent
$2,015/mo
Pharmacist salary (California)
$156,645/yr
Rent as % of income
15.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $13,054, and the 30% rule supports up to $3,916/mo in rent. Modesto's median rent of $2,015 leaves roughly $1,901/mo of headroom under that threshold. A pharmacist works roughly 26.8 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 Modesto, which improves the affordability math on a pharmacist salary:

Big Bear Lake, CA
$2,014/mo (15.4% of income)
Big Bear Lake, CA
$2,014/mo (15.4% of income)
Big Bear Lake, CA
$2,013/mo (15.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Modesto

View full rent data for Modesto, CA

Frequently asked questions

Can a pharmacist afford rent in Modesto, CA?

Median rent in Modesto is $2,015 a month. A typical pharmacist in California earns about $156,645 a year, which makes that rent 15.4% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a pharmacist afford in Modesto?

Using the 30% rule, a pharmacist salary in California (~$156,645/yr) supports up to $3,916 a month in rent. Modesto's current median rent is $2,015/mo, which leaves a $1,901/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $75 an hour, a pharmacist in California works roughly 26.8 hours a month to cover Modesto's median rent of $2,015.

Where is rent cheaper than Modesto for a pharmacist?

Nearby California cities with lower median rent include Big Bear Lake ($2,014/mo), Big Bear Lake ($2,014/mo), Big Bear Lake ($2,013/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 Modesto, CA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.