Can A Pharmacist Afford Rent in San Carlos, CA?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 37.1% of gross income.

San Carlos rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (California state estimate).

San Carlos median rent
$4,837/mo
Pharmacist salary (California)
$156,645/yr
Rent as % of income
37.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $13,054, and the 30% rule supports up to $3,916/mo in rent. San Carlos's median rent of $4,837 exceeds that threshold by $921/mo, putting a pharmacist salary into the rent-burdened range here. A pharmacist works roughly 64.2 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 San Carlos, which improves the affordability math on a pharmacist salary:

Corte Madera, CA
$4,827/mo (37% of income)
Tiburon, CA
$4,815/mo (36.9% of income)
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
$4,810/mo (36.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for San Carlos

View full rent data for San Carlos, CA

Frequently asked questions

Can a pharmacist afford rent in San Carlos, CA?

Median rent in San Carlos is $4,837 a month. A typical pharmacist in California earns about $156,645 a year, which makes that rent 37.1% 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 San Carlos?

Using the 30% rule, a pharmacist salary in California (~$156,645/yr) supports up to $3,916 a month in rent. San Carlos's current median rent is $4,837/mo, which is $921/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $75 an hour, a pharmacist in California works roughly 64.2 hours a month to cover San Carlos's median rent of $4,837.

Where is rent cheaper than San Carlos for a pharmacist?

Nearby California cities with lower median rent include Corte Madera ($4,827/mo), Tiburon ($4,815/mo), Rancho Palos Verdes ($4,810/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 San Carlos, CA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.