Can A Pharmacist Afford Rent in Scotts Valley, CA?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 34% of gross income.

Scotts Valley rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (California state estimate).

Scotts Valley median rent
$4,436/mo
Pharmacist salary (California)
$156,645/yr
Rent as % of income
34%
Gross monthly income works out to about $13,054, and the 30% rule supports up to $3,916/mo in rent. Scotts Valley's median rent of $4,436 exceeds that threshold by $520/mo, putting a pharmacist salary into the rent-burdened range here. A pharmacist works roughly 58.9 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 Scotts Valley, which improves the affordability math on a pharmacist salary:

Truckee, CA
$4,435/mo (34% of income)
Beverly Hills, CA
$4,433/mo (34% of income)
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
$4,433/mo (34% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Scotts Valley

View full rent data for Scotts Valley, CA

Frequently asked questions

Can a pharmacist afford rent in Scotts Valley, CA?

Median rent in Scotts Valley is $4,436 a month. A typical pharmacist in California earns about $156,645 a year, which makes that rent 34% 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 Scotts Valley?

Using the 30% rule, a pharmacist salary in California (~$156,645/yr) supports up to $3,916 a month in rent. Scotts Valley's current median rent is $4,436/mo, which is $520/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $75 an hour, a pharmacist in California works roughly 58.9 hours a month to cover Scotts Valley's median rent of $4,436.

Where is rent cheaper than Scotts Valley for a pharmacist?

Nearby California cities with lower median rent include Truckee ($4,435/mo), Beverly Hills ($4,433/mo), Rancho Palos Verdes ($4,433/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 Scotts Valley, CA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.