Can A Pharmacist Afford Rent in Surf City, NC?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 21.8% of gross income.

Surf City rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (North Carolina state estimate).

Surf City median rent
$2,265/mo
Pharmacist salary (North Carolina)
$124,785/yr
Rent as % of income
21.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $10,399, and the 30% rule supports up to $3,120/mo in rent. Surf City's median rent of $2,265 leaves roughly $855/mo of headroom under that threshold. A pharmacist works roughly 37.8 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 North Carolina cities have lower median rent than Surf City, which improves the affordability math on a pharmacist salary:

Waxhaw, NC
$2,263/mo (21.8% of income)
Advance, NC
$2,262/mo (21.8% of income)
Waxhaw, NC
$2,261/mo (21.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Surf City

View full rent data for Surf City, NC

Frequently asked questions

Can a pharmacist afford rent in Surf City, NC?

Median rent in Surf City is $2,265 a month. A typical pharmacist in North Carolina earns about $124,785 a year, which makes that rent 21.8% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a pharmacist afford in Surf City?

Using the 30% rule, a pharmacist salary in North Carolina (~$124,785/yr) supports up to $3,120 a month in rent. Surf City's current median rent is $2,265/mo, which leaves a $855/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $60 an hour, a pharmacist in North Carolina works roughly 37.8 hours a month to cover Surf City's median rent of $2,265.

Where is rent cheaper than Surf City for a pharmacist?

Nearby North Carolina cities with lower median rent include Waxhaw ($2,263/mo), Advance ($2,262/mo), Waxhaw ($2,261/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a pharmacist salary.

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