Can A Pharmacist Afford Rent in Denver, CO?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 16.2% of gross income.

Denver rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Colorado state estimate).

Denver median rent
$1,877/mo
Pharmacist salary (Colorado)
$139,388/yr
Rent as % of income
16.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $11,616, and the 30% rule supports up to $3,485/mo in rent. Denver's median rent of $1,877 leaves roughly $1,608/mo of headroom under that threshold. A pharmacist works roughly 28 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 Colorado cities have lower median rent than Denver, which improves the affordability math on a pharmacist salary:

Thornton, CO
$1,876/mo (16.2% of income)
Longmont, CO
$1,875/mo (16.1% of income)
Thornton, CO
$1,875/mo (16.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Denver

View full rent data for Denver, CO

Frequently asked questions

Can a pharmacist afford rent in Denver, CO?

Median rent in Denver is $1,877 a month. A typical pharmacist in Colorado earns about $139,388 a year, which makes that rent 16.2% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a pharmacist afford in Denver?

Using the 30% rule, a pharmacist salary in Colorado (~$139,388/yr) supports up to $3,485 a month in rent. Denver's current median rent is $1,877/mo, which leaves a $1,608/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $67 an hour, a pharmacist in Colorado works roughly 28 hours a month to cover Denver's median rent of $1,877.

Where is rent cheaper than Denver for a pharmacist?

Nearby Colorado cities with lower median rent include Thornton ($1,876/mo), Longmont ($1,875/mo), Thornton ($1,875/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a pharmacist salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived Colorado state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Denver, CO. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.