Can A Pharmacist Afford Rent in Urbandale, IA?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 11.8% of gross income.
Urbandale 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 Urbandale, which improves the affordability math on a pharmacist salary:
Compare with full rent data for Urbandale
View full rent data for Urbandale, IA →Frequently asked questions
Can a pharmacist afford rent in Urbandale, IA?
Median rent in Urbandale is $1,203 a month. A typical pharmacist in Iowa earns about $122,130 a year, which makes that rent 11.8% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a pharmacist afford in Urbandale?
Using the 30% rule, a pharmacist salary in Iowa (~$122,130/yr) supports up to $3,053 a month in rent. Urbandale's current median rent is $1,203/mo, which leaves a $1,850/mo buffer.
How many hours does a pharmacist work to cover rent in Urbandale?
At an hourly equivalent of about $59 an hour, a pharmacist in Iowa works roughly 20.5 hours a month to cover Urbandale's median rent of $1,203.
Where is rent cheaper than Urbandale for a pharmacist?
Nearby Iowa cities with lower median rent include Coralville ($1,199/mo), Pleasant Hill ($1,196/mo), Council Bluffs ($1,195/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a pharmacist salary.