Can A Pharmacist Afford Rent in Lake Forest, IL?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 45.8% of gross income.

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

Lake Forest median rent
$5,171/mo
Pharmacist salary (Illinois)
$135,405/yr
Rent as % of income
45.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $11,284, and the 30% rule supports up to $3,385/mo in rent. Lake Forest's median rent of $5,171 exceeds that threshold by $1,786/mo, putting a pharmacist salary into the rent-burdened range here. A pharmacist works roughly 79.4 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 Lake Forest, which improves the affordability math on a pharmacist salary:

Wilmette, IL
$4,246/mo (37.6% of income)
Wilmette, IL
$4,223/mo (37.4% of income)
Wilmette, IL
$4,213/mo (37.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Lake Forest

View full rent data for Lake Forest, IL

Frequently asked questions

Can a pharmacist afford rent in Lake Forest, IL?

Median rent in Lake Forest is $5,171 a month. A typical pharmacist in Illinois earns about $135,405 a year, which makes that rent 45.8% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a pharmacist afford in Lake Forest?

Using the 30% rule, a pharmacist salary in Illinois (~$135,405/yr) supports up to $3,385 a month in rent. Lake Forest's current median rent is $5,171/mo, which is $1,786/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $65 an hour, a pharmacist in Illinois works roughly 79.4 hours a month to cover Lake Forest's median rent of $5,171.

Where is rent cheaper than Lake Forest for a pharmacist?

Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Wilmette ($4,246/mo), Wilmette ($4,223/mo), Wilmette ($4,213/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 Lake Forest, IL. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.