Can A Pharmacist Afford Rent in Altoona, PA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 10.4% of gross income.

Altoona rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Pennsylvania state estimate).

Altoona median rent
$1,138/mo
Pharmacist salary (Pennsylvania)
$131,423/yr
Rent as % of income
10.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $10,952, and the 30% rule supports up to $3,286/mo in rent. Altoona's median rent of $1,138 leaves roughly $2,148/mo of headroom under that threshold. A pharmacist works roughly 18 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 Pennsylvania cities have lower median rent than Altoona, which improves the affordability math on a pharmacist salary:

Millvale, PA
$1,135/mo (10.4% of income)
New Castle, PA
$1,134/mo (10.4% of income)
Washington, PA
$1,132/mo (10.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Altoona

View full rent data for Altoona, PA

Frequently asked questions

Can a pharmacist afford rent in Altoona, PA?

Median rent in Altoona is $1,138 a month. A typical pharmacist in Pennsylvania earns about $131,423 a year, which makes that rent 10.4% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a pharmacist afford in Altoona?

Using the 30% rule, a pharmacist salary in Pennsylvania (~$131,423/yr) supports up to $3,286 a month in rent. Altoona's current median rent is $1,138/mo, which leaves a $2,148/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $63 an hour, a pharmacist in Pennsylvania works roughly 18 hours a month to cover Altoona's median rent of $1,138.

Where is rent cheaper than Altoona for a pharmacist?

Nearby Pennsylvania cities with lower median rent include Millvale ($1,135/mo), New Castle ($1,134/mo), Washington ($1,132/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a pharmacist salary.

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