Can A Pharmacist Afford Rent in Cedar Rapids, IA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 12.8% of gross income.

Cedar Rapids rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Iowa state estimate).

Cedar Rapids median rent
$1,307/mo
Pharmacist salary (Iowa)
$122,130/yr
Rent as % of income
12.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $10,178, and the 30% rule supports up to $3,053/mo in rent. Cedar Rapids's median rent of $1,307 leaves roughly $1,746/mo of headroom under that threshold. A pharmacist works roughly 22.3 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 Iowa cities have lower median rent than Cedar Rapids, which improves the affordability math on a pharmacist salary:

West Des Moines, IA
$1,304/mo (12.8% of income)
Iowa City, IA
$1,300/mo (12.8% of income)
Urbandale, IA
$1,298/mo (12.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Cedar Rapids

View full rent data for Cedar Rapids, IA

Frequently asked questions

Can a pharmacist afford rent in Cedar Rapids, IA?

Median rent in Cedar Rapids is $1,307 a month. A typical pharmacist in Iowa earns about $122,130 a year, which makes that rent 12.8% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a pharmacist afford in Cedar Rapids?

Using the 30% rule, a pharmacist salary in Iowa (~$122,130/yr) supports up to $3,053 a month in rent. Cedar Rapids's current median rent is $1,307/mo, which leaves a $1,746/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $59 an hour, a pharmacist in Iowa works roughly 22.3 hours a month to cover Cedar Rapids's median rent of $1,307.

Where is rent cheaper than Cedar Rapids for a pharmacist?

Nearby Iowa cities with lower median rent include West Des Moines ($1,304/mo), Iowa City ($1,300/mo), Urbandale ($1,298/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a pharmacist salary.

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