Can A Pharmacist Afford Rent in Santa Cruz, CA?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 28% of gross income.
Santa Cruz rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (California state estimate).
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 Santa Cruz, which improves the affordability math on a pharmacist salary:
Compare with full rent data for Santa Cruz
View full rent data for Santa Cruz, CA →Frequently asked questions
Can a pharmacist afford rent in Santa Cruz, CA?
Median rent in Santa Cruz is $3,649 a month. A typical pharmacist in California earns about $156,645 a year, which makes that rent 28% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a pharmacist afford in Santa Cruz?
Using the 30% rule, a pharmacist salary in California (~$156,645/yr) supports up to $3,916 a month in rent. Santa Cruz's current median rent is $3,649/mo, which leaves a $267/mo buffer.
How many hours does a pharmacist work to cover rent in Santa Cruz?
At an hourly equivalent of about $75 an hour, a pharmacist in California works roughly 48.5 hours a month to cover Santa Cruz's median rent of $3,649.
Where is rent cheaper than Santa Cruz for a pharmacist?
Nearby California cities with lower median rent include Redwood City ($3,648/mo), Cerritos ($3,646/mo), South San Francisco ($3,646/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a pharmacist salary.