Can A Pharmacist Afford Rent in Santa Monica, CA?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 26.9% of gross income.
Santa Monica 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 Monica, which improves the affordability math on a pharmacist salary:
Compare with full rent data for Santa Monica
View full rent data for Santa Monica, CA →Frequently asked questions
Can a pharmacist afford rent in Santa Monica, CA?
Median rent in Santa Monica is $3,517 a month. A typical pharmacist in California earns about $156,645 a year, which makes that rent 26.9% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a pharmacist afford in Santa Monica?
Using the 30% rule, a pharmacist salary in California (~$156,645/yr) supports up to $3,916 a month in rent. Santa Monica's current median rent is $3,517/mo, which leaves a $399/mo buffer.
How many hours does a pharmacist work to cover rent in Santa Monica?
At an hourly equivalent of about $75 an hour, a pharmacist in California works roughly 46.7 hours a month to cover Santa Monica's median rent of $3,517.
Where is rent cheaper than Santa Monica for a pharmacist?
Nearby California cities with lower median rent include Granite Bay ($3,516/mo), Marina ($3,513/mo), Morgan Hill ($3,512/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a pharmacist salary.