Can A Pharmacist Afford Rent in Alton, IL?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 8.7% of gross income.

Alton rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Illinois state estimate).

Alton median rent
$985/mo
Pharmacist salary (Illinois)
$135,405/yr
Rent as % of income
8.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $11,284, and the 30% rule supports up to $3,385/mo in rent. Alton's median rent of $985 leaves roughly $2,400/mo of headroom under that threshold. A pharmacist works roughly 15.1 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 Illinois cities have lower median rent than Alton, which improves the affordability math on a pharmacist salary:

Decatur, IL
$984/mo (8.7% of income)
Dixon, IL
$981/mo (8.7% of income)
Highland, IL
$979/mo (8.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Alton

View full rent data for Alton, IL

Frequently asked questions

Can a pharmacist afford rent in Alton, IL?

Median rent in Alton is $985 a month. A typical pharmacist in Illinois earns about $135,405 a year, which makes that rent 8.7% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a pharmacist afford in Alton?

Using the 30% rule, a pharmacist salary in Illinois (~$135,405/yr) supports up to $3,385 a month in rent. Alton's current median rent is $985/mo, which leaves a $2,400/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $65 an hour, a pharmacist in Illinois works roughly 15.1 hours a month to cover Alton's median rent of $985.

Where is rent cheaper than Alton for a pharmacist?

Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Decatur ($984/mo), Dixon ($981/mo), Highland ($979/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a pharmacist salary.

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