Can A Pharmacist Afford Rent in Charleston, IL?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 6.5% of gross income.

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

Charleston median rent
$730/mo
Pharmacist salary (Illinois)
$135,405/yr
Rent as % of income
6.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $11,284, and the 30% rule supports up to $3,385/mo in rent. Charleston's median rent of $730 leaves roughly $2,655/mo of headroom under that threshold. A pharmacist works roughly 11.2 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 Charleston, which improves the affordability math on a pharmacist salary:

Belleville, IL
$724/mo (6.4% of income)
Carbondale, IL
$679/mo (6% of income)
Belleville, IL
$671/mo (5.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Charleston

View full rent data for Charleston, IL

Frequently asked questions

Can a pharmacist afford rent in Charleston, IL?

Median rent in Charleston is $730 a month. A typical pharmacist in Illinois earns about $135,405 a year, which makes that rent 6.5% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a pharmacist afford in Charleston?

Using the 30% rule, a pharmacist salary in Illinois (~$135,405/yr) supports up to $3,385 a month in rent. Charleston's current median rent is $730/mo, which leaves a $2,655/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $65 an hour, a pharmacist in Illinois works roughly 11.2 hours a month to cover Charleston's median rent of $730.

Where is rent cheaper than Charleston for a pharmacist?

Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Belleville ($724/mo), Carbondale ($679/mo), Belleville ($671/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 Charleston, IL. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.