Can A Pharmacist Afford Rent in Elgin, IL?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 16.9% of gross income.

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

Elgin median rent
$1,909/mo
Pharmacist salary (Illinois)
$135,405/yr
Rent as % of income
16.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $11,284, and the 30% rule supports up to $3,385/mo in rent. Elgin's median rent of $1,909 leaves roughly $1,476/mo of headroom under that threshold. A pharmacist works roughly 29.3 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 Illinois cities have lower median rent than Elgin, which improves the affordability math on a pharmacist salary:

Rolling Meadows, IL
$1,908/mo (16.9% of income)
Glendale Heights, IL
$1,908/mo (16.9% of income)
Arlington Heights, IL
$1,907/mo (16.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Elgin

View full rent data for Elgin, IL

Frequently asked questions

Can a pharmacist afford rent in Elgin, IL?

Median rent in Elgin is $1,909 a month. A typical pharmacist in Illinois earns about $135,405 a year, which makes that rent 16.9% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a pharmacist afford in Elgin?

Using the 30% rule, a pharmacist salary in Illinois (~$135,405/yr) supports up to $3,385 a month in rent. Elgin's current median rent is $1,909/mo, which leaves a $1,476/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $65 an hour, a pharmacist in Illinois works roughly 29.3 hours a month to cover Elgin's median rent of $1,909.

Where is rent cheaper than Elgin for a pharmacist?

Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Rolling Meadows ($1,908/mo), Glendale Heights ($1,908/mo), Arlington Heights ($1,907/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 Elgin, IL. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.