Can A Pharmacist Afford Rent in Rio Rancho, NM?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 18.7% of gross income.

Rio Rancho rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (New Mexico state estimate).

Rio Rancho median rent
$1,857/mo
Pharmacist salary (New Mexico)
$119,475/yr
Rent as % of income
18.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $9,956, and the 30% rule supports up to $2,987/mo in rent. Rio Rancho's median rent of $1,857 leaves roughly $1,130/mo of headroom under that threshold. A pharmacist works roughly 32.3 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 New Mexico cities have lower median rent than Rio Rancho, which improves the affordability math on a pharmacist salary:

Ruidoso, NM
$1,800/mo (18.1% of income)
Los Lunas, NM
$1,795/mo (18% of income)
Los Lunas, NM
$1,745/mo (17.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Rio Rancho

View full rent data for Rio Rancho, NM

Frequently asked questions

Can a pharmacist afford rent in Rio Rancho, NM?

Median rent in Rio Rancho is $1,857 a month. A typical pharmacist in New Mexico earns about $119,475 a year, which makes that rent 18.7% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a pharmacist afford in Rio Rancho?

Using the 30% rule, a pharmacist salary in New Mexico (~$119,475/yr) supports up to $2,987 a month in rent. Rio Rancho's current median rent is $1,857/mo, which leaves a $1,130/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $57 an hour, a pharmacist in New Mexico works roughly 32.3 hours a month to cover Rio Rancho's median rent of $1,857.

Where is rent cheaper than Rio Rancho for a pharmacist?

Nearby New Mexico cities with lower median rent include Ruidoso ($1,800/mo), Los Lunas ($1,795/mo), Los Lunas ($1,745/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a pharmacist salary.

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