Can A Pharmacist Afford Rent in Cambridge, MA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 28% of gross income.

Cambridge rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Massachusetts state estimate).

Cambridge median rent
$3,598/mo
Pharmacist salary (Massachusetts)
$153,990/yr
Rent as % of income
28%
Gross monthly income works out to about $12,833, and the 30% rule supports up to $3,850/mo in rent. Cambridge's median rent of $3,598 leaves roughly $252/mo of headroom under that threshold. A pharmacist works roughly 48.6 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 Massachusetts cities have lower median rent than Cambridge, which improves the affordability math on a pharmacist salary:

Somerville, MA
$3,589/mo (28% of income)
Concord, MA
$3,588/mo (28% of income)
Concord, MA
$3,570/mo (27.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Cambridge

View full rent data for Cambridge, MA

Frequently asked questions

Can a pharmacist afford rent in Cambridge, MA?

Median rent in Cambridge is $3,598 a month. A typical pharmacist in Massachusetts earns about $153,990 a year, which makes that rent 28% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a pharmacist afford in Cambridge?

Using the 30% rule, a pharmacist salary in Massachusetts (~$153,990/yr) supports up to $3,850 a month in rent. Cambridge's current median rent is $3,598/mo, which leaves a $252/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $74 an hour, a pharmacist in Massachusetts works roughly 48.6 hours a month to cover Cambridge's median rent of $3,598.

Where is rent cheaper than Cambridge for a pharmacist?

Nearby Massachusetts cities with lower median rent include Somerville ($3,589/mo), Concord ($3,588/mo), Concord ($3,570/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a pharmacist salary.

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