Can A Pharmacist Afford Rent in Ames, IA?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 11.3% of gross income.
Ames rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Iowa 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 Iowa cities have lower median rent than Ames, which improves the affordability math on a pharmacist salary:
Compare with full rent data for Ames
View full rent data for Ames, IA →Frequently asked questions
Can a pharmacist afford rent in Ames, IA?
Median rent in Ames is $1,153 a month. A typical pharmacist in Iowa earns about $122,130 a year, which makes that rent 11.3% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a pharmacist afford in Ames?
Using the 30% rule, a pharmacist salary in Iowa (~$122,130/yr) supports up to $3,053 a month in rent. Ames's current median rent is $1,153/mo, which leaves a $1,900/mo buffer.
How many hours does a pharmacist work to cover rent in Ames?
At an hourly equivalent of about $59 an hour, a pharmacist in Iowa works roughly 19.6 hours a month to cover Ames's median rent of $1,153.
Where is rent cheaper than Ames for a pharmacist?
Nearby Iowa cities with lower median rent include Sioux City ($1,152/mo), Des Moines ($1,148/mo), Cedar Rapids ($1,146/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a pharmacist salary.